World Junior Champions add European titles in Soria, Spain
Under-23 Gold for Richard Allen too…
When the name Alex Yee is on the start list for a Junior Duathlon event, quite frankly, the rest of the entrants really are of no concern where predicting the winner is concerned. That, at least, is my view – and one that was more than proven once again in Soria, Spain, today at the ETU Duathlon European Championships.
Having watched first hand Alex’s total domination at the World Junior Championships last year in Aviles (also in Spain, pictured above…), the simple approach is broadly get him to T2 with the leaders, and it is game over. Well, it would appear that Alex was intent on doing more than a safe and tactical approach today, leaving everyone behind from the start.
@Lixsanyee killing it on the first run @BritTri #soria #duathlon @tri247 pic.twitter.com/ZleffaDsfU
— Chris Belcher (@PC_Lawyer) April 29, 2017
Pushing the pace solo on the opening run (14:48, versus the next best of 15:15), 20km of cycling later and by the start of the second run he had extended his lead to almost one minute to leave the final run something of a formality.
This youngster is pure class – and if he can close the (small) margin that he currently needs to become a consistent front pack swimmer, there are no limits to what Alex Yee can achieve in both Duathlon and Triathlon.
Huge win for @Lixsanyee at the Junior @ETUtriathlon Duathlon Champs today. Good man.
— Snooze (@coachnewport) April 29, 2017
The 2017 European Junior Champion in the women’s category was also the World Champion last year, as Delia Sclabas (SUI) took the win. Her success is down to her running speed (she also represented Switzerland, finishing sixth in the 2016 European Junior Cross Country Championships), where she took out the first run solo, was caught on the bike, and then ran away to a comfortable win on the closing 2.5km run.
Caitlin Roper was GB’s only representative in the Junior Elite race, finishing in fifth place.
Pleased not only to come away with 5th at the Elite Junior European Duathlon Champs, but knowledge of my potential for the season to come…
— Caitlin Roper (@Caitlin1704) April 29, 2017
The men’s Under-23 race win was up for grabs until the last few hundred metres, where Great Britain’s Richard Allen managed to run past home athlete Javier Martin Morales to take the title (and finish eighth overall), by just seven seconds.
Great win in the Elite U23 race for Rich Allen today. So happy for him. Very close race & tidy kick to take it in final 200m 👊🏼😎
— Snooze (@coachnewport) April 29, 2017
Soria ETU Duathlon European Junior Championships – Saturday 29th April 2017
5km / 20km / 2.5km
MEN
1st – Alex Yee (GBR) – 53:28
2nd – Grigory Antipov (RUS) – 54:21
3rd – Matevz Planko (SLO) – 54:30
13th – Cameron Richardson (GBR) – 55:51
WOMEN
1st – Delia Sclabas (SUI) – 1:02:17
2nd – Laura Stewart (BEL) – 1:02:33
3rd – Gabriela Ribeiro (POR) – 1:02:40
4th – Annika Koch (GER) – 1:03:49
5th – Caitlin Roper (GBR) – 1:03:51
Soria ETU Duathlon European Under-23 Championships – Saturday 29th April 2017
10km / 40km / 5km
MEN
1st – Richard Allen (GBR) – 1:50:09
2nd – Javier Martin Morales (ESP) – 1:50:16
3rd – Nathan Guerbeur (FRA) – 1:50:39
Soria ETU Duathlon European Senior Championships – Saturday 29th April 2017
10km / 40km / 5km
MEN
1st – Emilio Martin (ESP) – 1:46:07
2nd – Benoit Nicolas (FRA) – 1:46:16
3rd – Yohan Le Berre (FRA) – 1:47:04
4th – Mark Buckingham (GBR) – 1:47:46
6th – Philip Wylie (GBR) – 1:48:26
8th – Richard Allen (GBR) – 1:50:09
DNF – Richard Horton (GBR)
LAP – Danny Russell (GBR)