World Triathlon Cup Arzachena and Europe Triathlon Championships Olsztyn headline this weekend’s swim, bike, run action, which also includes a day of celebration for the Great Britain Age-Group Team and the Scottish National Aquathlon Championships.
World Triathlon Cup Arzachena (28 May)
World Triathlon Cup Arzachena marks the start of the Olympic qualification period for Paris 2024 and the elite men’s start list includes Olympic champion and three-time Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee, who won at this event last year.
The event will be raced over the sprint distance in Italy, with Brownlee joined on the start line by fellow British triathletes Harry Leleu, Grant Sheldon and Jack Willis.
Sophie Alden is Great Britain’s sole representative in the elite women’s race and comes into the race off the back of two top-10 finishes at Europe Triathlon Cup events this year.
The elite women's race starts at 09:30 (UK Time) followed by the elite men's race at 14:30.
Europe Triathlon Championships Olsztyn (27-29 May)
There’s a large British contingent heading to Poland this weekend for the Europe Triathlon Championships. The city of Olsztyn will host the European Championships in paratriathlon and age group standard distance triathlon, as well as the super sprint championships for elite triathlon, U23 and junior triathletes.
Nine British paratriathletes will compete over the sprint distance in Poland including defending champions Claire Cashmore (women’s PTS5) and Dave Ellis (men’s PTVI). Also competing in Olsztyn will be over 190 age group athletes who will represent the Great Britain Age-Group Team over the standard distance, including many athletes competing at an international championships for the first time.
Super sprint is the distance for elite triathlon, U23 and junior triathletes who will compete over a semi-final and final format for European medals, while the British junior athletes will also race together in the junior mixed relay.
IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau (29 May)
Tara Grosvenor will take on her third IRONMAN 70.3 event in four weeks when she lines-up on the IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau start line on Sunday (29 May).
After finishing sixth in Marbella over the same distance last weekend, Grosvenor is on the start list for the pro women’s race in Germany, as is Olivia Mitchell, who was fourth in Marbella.
Athletes will begin with a one-loop 1.9km swim, before a 90km bike course which shows why the region carries the nickname “land of a thousand hills” and then a 21.1km run across three laps.
Challenge St. Polten (29 May)
Lucy Buckingham already has two Challenge podiums to her name in 2022, including third place at last weekend’s The Championship, and the London 2012 Olympian will be looking to continue her podium streak at Challenge St. Polten.
Like Buckingham, Will Draper will also be competing in back-to-back races in the men’s pro race after finishing 13th last weekend, his highest finish at a Challenge event.
The opening 1.9km swim isn’t your usual format with athletes exiting the water after 1km to then run approximately 200m to a second lake to complete the opening discipline before transitioning onto the bike and then a 21.1km run in the city of St. Polten.
British Triathlon Age-Group Celebration Cup (29 May)
Current, previous and future Great Britain Age-Group Team members will come together for a day of racing and celebration at the British Triathlon Age-Group Celebration Cup on Sunday (29 May).
The one-day event will be held at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, and will include racing opportunities, athlete development workshops and a chance to try on the new GB Age-Group Team trisuit for size.
Racing will include draft-illegal triathlon, duathlon, aquabike and aquathlon in the morning, before draft-legal triathlon and duathlon in the afternoon followed by a mixed team relay.
Athletes will earn points for their chosen Home Nation based on their finishing position in each race with the country with the highest number of points at the end of the day lifting the 2022 Age-Group Home Nations Cup.
Scottish National Aquathlon Championships (29 May)
There will be an opportunity for Triathlon Scotland members to become national champion this weekend when Shewalton Aquathlon hosts the Scottish National Aquathlon Championships on Sunday (29 May).
The National Aquathlon Championships will crown Scottish champions in the Adult (20+), Junior (17-19) and Youth (15-16) age groups over the swim, run format. Athletes will complete a 750m open water swim in Shewalton Pond, before a 5km run on paved and forest paths through Shewalton Woods.
To be eligible for a Scottish Championship medal athletes must be a Core or Ultimate member of Triathlon Scotland.
