Emma Pooley earns ETU Powerman Duathlon European Championship Gold in Germany

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Great Britain’s Emma Pooley added European Gold to her three World Championship titles with a decisive performance at the Sankt Wendel ETU Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon Championships on Sunday

With a course is described as “savage” by fellow Great Britain Elite team member, Ben Price, that is certainly the sort of terrain and challenge that suits renowned fan of all things hilly, Emma Pooley. Having excelled for the past three years at the ITU Powerman World Long Distance Duathlon Championship event in Zofingen, the 2008 Olympic Silver medal winning time trial cyclist will have been pleased to find an appropriately tough course for the 2017 ETU Championships in Sankt Wendel.

Despite the presence of defending champion Nina Brenn (SUI), winner in Copenhagen last year, it was Sandra Illes (AUT) who led the way into T1 after the opening 10km, with Pooley right with her. At this stage, Dionne Allen was a minute and a half back, alongside Miriam Van Reijen (NED). And that was a close as it got for Pooley.

Once on the bike, the fastest split by over four minutes combined with the fastest closing 10km run resulted in a winning margin of nine minutes. That is now four wins from four starts in GB Elite colours for the former UCI Time Trial World Champion. She’ll be aiming for a fourth consecutive Zofingen crown later this year.

There was disappointment before the Elite Men’s race started for Lee Piercy. 12th last year in Copenhagen, a broken bike could not be fixed despite the best efforts of the mechanics and he was unable to start the race. The men’s Elite title went to Felix Köhler, who managed to overtake Søren Bystrup (DEN) on the second run for a narrow victory margin, winning Gold for the host nation.

Sankt Wendel ETU Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon European Championships
10km run - 60km bike - 10km run (non-drafting)

1st – Emma Pooley (GBR) – 3:19:48
2nd – Laura Zimmermann (GER) – 3:28:49
3rd – Sandrina Illes (AUT) – 3:39:55

9th – Dionne Allen (GBR) – 3:43:16

1st – Felix Köhler (GER) – 2:58:28
2nd – Søren Bystrup (DEN) – 2:59:04
3rd – Benjamin Choquert (FRA) – 2:59:51

14th – Julian Lings (GBR) – 3:11:27
15th – Ben Price (GBR) – 3:11:36
20th – Peter Ellis (GBR) – 3:16:01

 

Great Britain Age-Group Medals

The 50 plus strong British team, returned for a total of 11 medals from the Age-Group races, including four Gold.

Four of the team (Kate Morris, Eleanor Robinson, Mick Anglim and Boo Smith), collected their second ETU medals of the season, having also secured podiums in Soria, Spain, over the shorter distance duathlon format three weeks ago.

GOLD (4)

  • Jessica Chamberlain – F25-29
  • Kate Morris – F50-54
  • Eleanor Robinson – F70-74
  • Mick Anglim – M70-74

SILVER (5)

  • Eilidh Yates – F30-34
  • Chris Kilburn – M30-34
  • Helen Bateson – F35-39
  • Kirsti Sharratt – F45-49
  • Boo Smith – F55-59

BRONZE (2)

  • Vikki Sivertsen – F50-54
  • Paul Rogers – M50-54

Full Results: Available here

 

 

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