Spirig and Gomez Euro Champions
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Swiss-miss Nicola Spirig and Javier Gomez returned to form Sunday taking top honors at the 2009 Holten ETU Triathlon European Championships. Spirig stamped her arrival back to the international racing scene after taking the first half of the year off while Gomez looks to be back in form after a slow start to 2009 due to injury.
Recent double Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship winner, Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain finished second in the elite men’s race behind Gomez. After a spectacular battle for the bronze medal the talented Russian, Alexander Brukhankov, climbed onto the podium ahead of the defending European Champion, Frederic Belaubre of France, who finished fourth.
In the women’s race the silver medal was taken by Elizabeth May from Luxembourg and the bronze went to the Portugal’s Olympic silver medallist, Vanessa Fernandes. The last time Fernandes won a bronze medal on a European Championships was back in 2002 as a junior athlete. Since then, however, she has collected one junior and five consecutive elite European titles. This was Fernandes’ 2009 return after a lengthy absence due to a broken collarbone
2009 Holten ETU Triathlon European Championships
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Women – Unofficial Results
Gold – Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:55:42
Silver – Elizabeth May (LUX) 1:56:10
Bronze – Vanessa Fernandes 1:56:32
4th – Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:57:00
5th – Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1:57:15
6th – Hollie Avil (GBR) 1:57:22
7th – Irina Abysova (RUS) 1:57:35
8th – Melanie Annaheim (SUI) 1:57:35
9th – Helle Frederiksen (DEN) 1:57:36
10th – Lisa Mensink (NED) 1:57:46
Elite Men – Unofficial Results
Gold – Javier Gomez (ESP) 1:44:14
Silver – Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 1:44:41
Bronze – Alexander Brukhankov (RUS) 1:44:49
4th – Frederic Belaubre (FRA) 1:44:52
5th – Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:44:56
6th – Sebastian Rank (GER) 1:44:58
7th – Bruno Pais (POR) 1:45:10
8th – Tony Moulai (FRA) 1:45:18
9th – Steffen Justus (GER) 1:45:22
10th – Oleksiy Syutkin (UKR) 1:45:26