Successful Test Event For European Long Distance Triathlon Championships

Virginia Berasategui and Mikel Elgezabal, from Ipar Kutxa Auzokoa, won last Sunday’s test event (Spanish Long Distance Triathlon Championships) for the 2010 European Long Distance Triathlon Championships in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Patxi Lazcoz, mayor of the city, recognized that the town want to be recognised as a long distance triathlon venue across the world.

Virginia Berasategui claimed victory with a time of 6 hours, 32 minutes and 13 seconds for 4 km swimming at Landa Park, 120 km cycling and 30 km running. In the men’s race the winner was Mikel Elgezabal with a time of 5:56:24. The finish line was placed inside the Fernando Buesa Arena, the stadium for the Tau Ceramica basketball team.

The Spanish Championship was organized by Ascentium, the Spanish Triathlon Federation, the Basque Country Triathlon Federation and the Álava Triathlon Federation. The Vitoria-Gasteiz Town Council and the Statutory Deputation of Álava were the main sponsors.

The local long distance triathlete Eneko Llanos, one of the best long distance athletes in the world, is the technical director of the organization: “Eduardo Martínez, from Ascentium proposed that I developed the triathlete’s view for the event. In general we are happy because almost everything worked well. I think next year’s European Long Distance Triathlon Champs are going to be a really successful event!”

Patxi Lazcoz thinks that the 2010 European Champs will be a great opportunity “to show the city to the world”. Lazcoz believes that “many people have to work hard from now on, but I am absolutely convinced of creating a wonderful event”.

Organisers have indicated that the capital of the Basque Country is going to bid to host the 2011 ITU Triathlon Long Distance World Championships.

Provided by Triathlon.org.