Search
shop

Reigning World Champions confirmed for ETU Duathlon European Championships

The world's best run-bike-run athletes will be headlining the ETU Duathlon European Championships in Punta Umbria, next month...
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Choquert and Levenez to race in Punta Umbria, Spain

With just one month to go before the European Duathlon Championship Punta Umbria 2020 (WEBSITE) – which will be held from the 6th to the 8th of March – the French Triathlon Federation has confirmed the participation of its two current ITU World Champions, Sandra Levenez and Benjamin Choquert.

French duathletes will be the main rivals in one of the highest-level European Championships in the history of duathlon. the “DuArmada” (Spain) will be led by Emilio Martin (racing at home), one of the best duathletes in history. There will be another top contenders such as the Belgian Vandecasteele (bronze medal at Pontevedra World Championship behind Martin), and the others members of the French team: Le Berre, Le Bihan or Bargetto.

Benjamin Choquert / ITU Duathlon World Championships 2019 / Pontevedra

Benjamin Choquert has recently performed well at the Valencia Marathon, where he has also achieved the minimum standard for the Olympic Games for this distance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jw2EQK2d_/

For the Elite women, Sandra Levenez will start as the race favourite, although the Spaniard, Irene Loizate, the current Spanish and European Duathlon Champion, will not make things easy at Punta Umbria. The female category level will also be outstanding, especially with Sandrina Illes (AUT), the 2018 ITU World Champion, also confirming her presence.

Sandra Levenez

The Events and the province of Huelva

The province of Huelva will stage the start of the European duathlon and triathlon season from 6th to 8th March, with the European Duathlon Championship in Punta Umbria, and the 14th and 15th of March, with the ETU Triathlon European Cup in Huelva.

These two international events will place Huelva and Punta Umbria at the centre of triathlon and duathlon at a continental level in 2020. They take over the baton, and the experienced garnered, from the 2017 World Cup (which also connected Punta Umbria and Huelva), plus the European Cup and the Iberoamerican Championship last March, as well as the Spanish Duathlon Championship by Clubs and Mixed Relays in 2019.

The AG Sprint Distance European Championship will take place on Saturday, 7th of March (draft-legal), with distances of 5km / 20km / 2.5km. The Junior, U23 and Elite competitions will also take place on the same day. The European Standard Distance Championship will take place on Sunday the 8th, over distances of 10km  / 40km cycle / 5km run (non-drafting).

The official European Duathlon Championship Punta Umbria 2020 will start with the collection of the welcome package and Technical Briefings, on Friday, 6th March. The opening ceremony will also take place on that same day, with the Parade of Nations and the protocol act. The Hotel Barceló Punta Umbria will host the closing party on Sunday, 8th March, and it will also be one of the main competition centres, next to the Finish Area in Avenida de Andalucia.

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast
What is it really like to be a professional triathlete? NEW TRI247 x Challenge Family podcast takes you beyond the start lines this race season
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Let’s race… French Riviera T100
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Gustav Iden aero position body rocket
How to get better at holding your time trial position – Expert tips from former PRO time trial cyclist Alex Dowsett
latest News
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders moving again but taking it step by step in injury battle
Magnus Ditlev - T100 San Francisco 2024 run
“I lost it mentally” – Magnus Ditlev reveals why he was shown red card at IRONMAN Frankfurt
Marjolaine Pierre World Long Distance Triathlon win 2025
World Triathlon Long-Distance Championships 2025 results: Pierre and Benito add second wins
Kristian Blummenfelt wins IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025 results: Blummenfelt defends title on drama-packed day
Magnus Ditlev run Challenge Roth 2024 Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth
Crazy scenes as Magnus Ditlev is shown a red card but runs on at IRONMAN Frankfurt
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...