NEWS

Ivan Vasiliev earns his first European title

By Erin Greene | 15 Jun, 2013
Ivan Vasiliev continued his successful season with victory at the European Championships in Alanya

Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) continued his successful season at the 2013 Alanya ETU Triathlon European Championships on Saturday, winning his first European title. Alessandro Fabian (ITA) executed a strong race plan from start to finish for silver, while Mario Mola (ESP) smoked the run yet again to make up nearly two minutes off the bike for bronze, each claiming their first elite European Championship medals.

The amphibious Richard Varga (SVK) led the men around the two-lap swim course and into transition. But his lead was minimal, as Vincent Luis (FRA) and Maximilian Schwetz (GER) followed Varga out of the ocean just a second later. A total of 14 men got their bikes out of transition with an 11-second lead, but that group quickly dwindled down to 10 approaching the first bike turn with a half minute advantage.

Included in the group that broke away was Varga, Vasiliev,  Alessandro Fabian (ITA), Pierre le Corre (FRA), and Dmitry Polyanskiy (RUS). Meanwhile, pre-race faourite Mola trailed in the second group 40 seconds down after the first lap.

By the second lap the group fell to just nine when Polyanskiy dropped to the chase group, then nearly a minute back. After Varga punctured a tire to take him out of the race on lap 4 of the bike, the leading eight had increased their lead to over a minute and a half with one lap left.

A speedy transition saw the top eight head for the four-lap run course with a 1:44 minute lead. Vasiliev took immediate charge, clearing past all the men by the first run turn with Fabian trailing hotly. Behind them, Mola had already slashed 20 seconds off his deficit to come within 1:17 on the first lap.

Vasiliev’s early push paid off, as he gradually increased his lead with each lap over Fabian, Schwetz, and Luis. On the third lap, Fabian put on his running cap, attempting to reel in Vasiliev, effectively dropping Schwetz and Luis.

But the Russian was too strong on Saturday and held his position to earn the European title in 1:42:09. Fabian crossed over seven seconds later in 1:42:16. But the battle for bronze began on the bell lap when Mola smoked the competition and ran himself into third in 1:42:22 despite starting the run nearly two minutes behind the leaders.

Junior Men’s Race
Dorian Coninx (FRA) is the new Junior European Champion after a scintillating men’s race in Alanya. The Frenchman surprisingly out-ran teammate and pre-race favourite Raphael Montoya in the closing stages of the 5km run. Montoya, whose running prowess is well documented following two sprint finish wins in 2013, claimed the silver medal ahead of Britain’s Marc Austin. For more in the junior race, click here.

Junior files from David Peddie

Related Event: 2013 Alanya ETU Triathlon European Championships
14 - Jun, 2013 • event pageall results
Results: 16-19 Female AG Sprint
1. Clover Murray GBR 01:08:22
2. Molly Mckenzie GBR 01:08:46
3. Isabel Steele GBR 01:09:00
4. Rebecca Ladyman GBR 01:09:02
5. Whitney Larkin GBR 01:09:11
6. Honor Rendall GBR 01:10:38
7. Charlotte McRae GBR 01:10:57
8. Charlotte Wickens GBR 01:12:50
Results: 16-19 Male AG Sprint
1. Alastair Rogers IRL 00:58:22
2. Kieran Hill GBR 00:58:26
3. Nicholas Haworth GBR 00:58:43
4. Oliver Swallow GBR 00:58:59
5. Tom Stead GBR 01:00:01
6. Arran Rae GBR 01:01:02
7. Mika Brown GBR 01:01:19
8. James Kidd GBR 01:01:42
9. Adam Edwards GBR 01:05:33
10. Mark Todhunter GBR 01:08:32
Results: 18-19 Male AG
1. Patrick Cutmore GBR 02:04:25
2. James Briscoe GBR 02:10:30
3. Bjarki Freyr Rúnarsson ISL 02:11:42
4. Kurt Gunby GBR 02:30:25
Results: 20-24 Female AG
1. Hannah Cutajar MLT 02:13:05
2. Emily Whitmore GBR 02:13:25
3. Louisa Downs GBR 02:15:29
4. Hannah Johnston GBR 02:21:16
5. Emine Ulucay TUR 02:37:25
Results: 20-24 Female AG Sprint
1. Heather Sellars GBR 01:02:04
2. Sophie Edge GBR 01:07:40
3. Gemma Scott GBR 01:08:08
4. Jennifer Batey GBR 01:08:54
5. Katie Williams GBR 01:11:12
6. Elanor Cadzow GBR 01:12:07
7. Katie Quinn GBR 01:12:54
8. Sezin Tugen TUR 01:12:59
9. Victoria Elmer GBR 01:13:15
10. Emma Ritchie GBR 01:17:06
Results: 20-24 Male AG
1. Samuel Wade GBR 01:55:07
2. Bojan Karanovic SRB 02:01:10
3. Jonathan Yeates GBR 02:01:11
4. Iain Gillam GBR 02:01:15
5. Alfred Chapman GBR 02:03:20
6. Onur Calp TUR 02:04:46
7. James Keir GBR 02:06:05
8. Ryan Hart GBR 02:06:51
9. Alperen Gulbahce TUR 02:18:10
10. James Smith GBR 02:23:13