Belgium goes to Multisport European Championships in Portugal with a wide selection of duathletes and triathletes – 3athlon.be

The European Multisport Championships of Europe Triathlon will take place from 14 to 22 June in Coimbra, Portugal, with duathlon, cross-duathlon, cross-triathlon, aquathlon, aquabike and middle distance triathlon. Belgium is sending a large selection of duathletes and triathletes to Portugal, with the striking finding that six instead of five elite duathletes have been selected and that for the time being no Belgians are participating in the European Cross-Triathlon Championships, which takes place two days after the European Cross-Duathlon Championships. follows.

Extensive duathlon selection

There was some discussion about the fact that duathlete Arnaud Dely did not participate in the selection competition in Kruisem on May 1. He had already met the selection standards and so in principle four extra places remained. But in the end, the entire top 5 from Kruisem can go to Portugal, with Thibaut De Smet, Michiel Stockman (selected for the short distance, although he still had to compete as an age grouper in Alsdorf at the European Championships and became European champion there on Sunday), Vincent Bierinckx, Nicolas Schyns and Angelo Vandecasteele.

For the women, Lisa Isebaert, leader in the Lotto Duathlon Series, starts as the only elite athlete. So we have no Lotte Claes, Maurine Ricour but also no Eleonore Hiller at the start in Portugal. Camille Roman and top talent Jeanne Dupont have been selected among the promising players. Dupont seems to be a strong candidate for European gold in the U23 category, especially after her victory in the Grand Prix duathlon of Chatellerault in France. For the men, Martin Oldenhove and Stef Corthouts start with the U23. Cas Goos and Aymeric De Springer start with the juniors.

Cross-duathlon, no cross-triathlon for Belgians

Sebastien Carabin is doing very well this season in the Xterra World Tour, but in Coimbra he will only participate in the European Cross-Duathlon Championships in which he became world champion last year. Reigning European champion Thibaut De Smet will also participate in the European Cross Duathlon Championships, just like brothers Nicolas and Matteo, who have both been selected for the U23. Yannis Devoldere is the only junior allowed to participate.

4 triathletes at the European Championship middle distance triathlon

The European Multisport Championships conclude with the European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships, featuring 4 Belgian triathletes. Katrien Verstuyft is the only Belgian lady at the start in Portugal. For the men, Christophe De Keyser, Jonathan Wayaffe and reigning European champion, van Menen last year, Louis Naeyaert defend.

The program of the European Multisport Championships:

Saturday June 15: European Duathlon Championships
Tuesday, June 18: European Cross-Duathlon Championships
Thursday, June 20: European Cross-Triathlon Championships
Friday June 21: European Aquathlon Championships
Saturday June 22: European Championship middle distance Triathlon