Search
shop

Triathlon PHENOM Hugo Milner defies Storm Bert to book spot at European Cross Country Championship

The season is far from over for up-and-coming British triathlete who continues to excel in Cross Country despite some challenging conditions.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Triathlon star Hugo Milner overcame epic Cross Country conditions in Liverpool at the weekend after Storm Bert brought destruction to large parts of the UK.

Milner has really made his mark in swim / bike / run in the last couple of seasons – but he’s also hit new heights in the Cross Country sphere too.

Last season saw him win the Liverpool Cross Challenge – in front of none other than track and field great Carl Lewis – before going on to just miss out on a medal when finishing fourth at the European Cross Country Championship in Brussels.

Advertisement

Turkey on December menu

The Liverpool event again counted as the British trials for the Euros, which this year will be held in Antalya, Turkey on 8 December – and Milner booked his place there with a runner-up spot in incredibly testing conditions in the North West of the UK which had been battered by snow, wind and then heavy rain.

The men’s senior race was one of the last to take place too so by then the ground had been churned up even more, with the muddy conditions ramping up the challenge.

As the defending champion – and the man who animated the 2023 Euros before just being run out of a medal late on – Derby athlete Milner was the favourite for a repeat victory.

But it was Tomer Tarragano from Brighton and Hove AC who just proved the stronger.

Hugo Milner Liverpool Cross Challenge 2024 Photo copyright: Paul Bannister
Hugo Milner tackles the mud in Liverpool [Photo copyright: Paul Bannister / Instagram @bannersrunningsnaps/]

The top four go to the Euros, with Tarragano and Milner joined on the senior men’s team by Scott Beattie and Ellis Cross.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen next up

Milner will be aiming to go at least one better than last year at the Euros and is relishing taking on legendary Norwegian runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen, a two-time Olympic champion – more about that later this week.

And speaking afterwards to Athletics Weekly, Milner said of the Liverpool race: “Training has been going really well, so I knew I was going to have a good race, but it’s always difficult to tell how other people are going to do. 

“So I just focused on my own race and knew that I could push it on the last lap, but in the end it just wasn’t enough for the win. But still happy with second.

“I’m a bit disappointed not to get the win, but Tomer had a great race, so credit to him.”

Milner made his World Triathlon Cup breakthrough just over a year ago when powering through with a 29:33 10km run to take the title against a strong field in Miyazaki, Japan.

And he’s continued the good work in 2024, following up with another win at the Europe Triathlon Cup Quarteira when short-course great Vincent Luis was second.

He rounded off the campaign with a superb 10th at the WTCS Grand Final in Torremolinos, with his blistering 28:47 easily the quickest run of the day.

If he can continue that rate of progress than he looks a strong contender not just for a Team GB spot at the 2028 Olympics, but in with a real shout of a medal. Indeed fellow triathletes have described him as “the sport’s biggest X Factor“.

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
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
Joe Skipper finished fifth at Challenge Roth 2023
Challenge Roth 2025: Triathlon star Joe Skipper comes back from the brink for another shot at iconic race
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth beer
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Toulouse 2024
British Olympic legend Georgia Taylor-Brown to make triathlon return
Gwen Jorgensen reflective World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mer 2023
‘Unbreakable’ Gwen Jorgensen ‘bruised’ after bike crash but vows to bounce back
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...