Search
shop

Stadler: We took some bashing for selecting Spirig for Collins Cup

Team Europe Captains Normann Stadler and Natascha Badmann were fully vindicated with their wildcard picks
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Team Europe Co-Captain Normann Stadler said he and fellow skipper Natascha Badmann took some criticism for selecting Nicola Spirig as one of the Captain’s picks, but her win in match #4 helped contribute to an emphatic Collins Cup victory.

“It’s not easy in Europe to have the Captains’ Picks,” he said. “We have so many guys waiting in line.

“We missed Frodo [Jan Frodeno], Lucy Charles-Barclay and we still won. Of course, it’s not easy, we got a lot of bashing for picking Nicola, but she showed today she’s one of the best athletes in the world.”

Advertisement

Successful strike-rate

Their other picks were Holly Lawrence, who won match #5, Daniel Bækkegård who won match #12 and Sam Laidlow, who made headlines of a slightly different kind.

Stadler added: “I am really happy because defending a title is much harder than winning the first one. But the first race, Daniela against Flora Duffy was very amazing for me. 

“I never thought that Daniela would race like that. It was the start of a good day.”

Collins Cup 2022 Nicola Spirig photo credit Darren Wheeler and PTO
[Photo credit: Darren Wheeler / PTO]

Badmann was also impressed with how the female athletes all swam.  

She explained: “We thought the ladies would have a pretty hard time on the swim. We didn’t expect them to be so close.

“Each heat was a group of three coming out and so for the next girl seeing the one in front of her performing so well, the spirit came over. Honestly, we didn’t think that they would be so high ranked coming out of the swim.”

‘They both put themselves in a coffin’

Erin Baker, Captain of Team International alongside Craig Alexander, gave credit to the European team as well as a special nod to Canada’s Lionel Sanders for his herculean efforts to win match #8 against Sam Long: “It was amazing, they both just put themselves in a coffin really but Lionel was fabulous.

“The team did brilliantly. The wins are fantastic. Everyone put everything into it but give it all to Europe though. They were amazing this year; but our team did great.”

Noting that Team International were third last year and second this time around, she’s hoping to go one better next year: “You’d have to say so, wouldn’t you?”

Collins Cup 2022 Lionel Sanders photo credit Darren Wheeler and PTO

[Photo credit: Darren Wheeler / PTO]

Broken spokes

Team USA didn’t win a single match this year, something for captain Dave Scott to reflect on as they take home the Broken Spokes trophy.

“We had some athletes that said that it was really challenging on the bike. We had a few that got sick. Why, I don’t really know why.

“Controlling those variables is always the challenge in the race and they were up for the challenge at the outset. 

“Team Europe and the Internationals were brilliant at times. Certainly, Europe was outstanding.”

Final Match Score: Team Europe 53, Team Internationals 38, Team USA 22.5

Helen Gorman
Written by
Helen Gorman
Helen is part of the editorial team at TRI247 after spending ten years as a Press Officer with British Triathlon. She's mostly found at a pool, sometimes breaking world masters records.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
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!)
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
latest News
Gwen Jorgensen reflective World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mer 2023
‘Unbreakable’ Gwen Jorgensen ‘bruised’ after bike crash but vows to bounce back
IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue Women For Tri 2024
IRONMAN announce new age-group qualification system for Kona and 70.3 Worlds
IRONMAN World Championship 2019 / Kona 2019
IRONMAN’s new age-group system for Kona – all the big questions answered
Frederic Funk finish line Challenge Samarkand 2023 photo credit Challenge Family
Challenge Roth 2025: German star goes into the unknown in iconic triathlon showdown
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
‘It’s going to be an absolute firecracker’ says Cam Wurf after booking IRONMAN World Champs spot
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...