GB teams prepare for Pontevedra

Alistair Brownlee aims to retain his ETU European Triathlon title this weekend as the GE Great Britain team heads to Pontevedra. A team of elite senior, junior, paratriathlon and amateur athletes will travel to the northern Spanish town that is home to current ITU triathlon world champion, Javier Gomez.

Alistair Brownlee will compete alongside younger brother, Jonathan, having scored two major victories already this month in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Todd Leckie, Harry Wiltshire and David McNamee join them on the start line for the Saturday evening race.

Brownlee senior was victorious in Madrid, where he waited for Jonathan before crossing the finishing line, and won again in Kitzbuhel last weekend in dominant fashion.

He said: “Defending the European title is really important to me. It’s a big thing to be able to say you’re the European Champion and last year’s win in Ireland was one of the highlights of my career.

“I’ve had two good races already this month so I know I’m in good shape, and while the focus is Olympic qualification this year, I’m excited about racing this weekend.”

Jonathan Brownlee said: “I missed Kitzbuhel to focus on doing well this weekend. It’s going to be a really competitive race with Gomez being in his home town, and I’m excited about getting stuck in and fighting for a medal; that would be a great result.”

Hollie Avil has her first major start of the season in the women’s elite race on Saturday afternoon; whist Jodie Stimpson continues her busy season. She was 15th in Madrid, and 19th in Kitzbuhel recently.

Non Stanford and Lois Rosindale make their senior triathlon debuts, and Abbie Thorrington returns to action after racing in Madrid earlier this month.

Lucy Hall will race in the junior event on Friday along with Sky Draper and Maddie Winzer. Nineteen-year-old Hall, who trains at Loughborough University, finished second to Helen Jenkins at the televised GE Strathclyde Park Triathlon in May to secure her selection for the European Championships.

Scottish trio, Marc Austin, Cameron Milne and Grant Sheldon start the junior men’s event. The fastest two male and female juniors will contest the relay event on Sunday.

GE Great Britain Team
Men:
Alistair Brownlee, 23, Hometown: Leeds. Trains: Leeds
Jonathan Brownlee, 21, Hometown: Leeds, Trains: Leeds
Todd Leckie, 24, Hometown: Hailsham, Trains: Eastbourne
David McNamee, 23, Hometown: Stirling, Trains: Leeds
Harry Wiltshire, 28, Hometown: Wareham, Trains: Dorset

Women:
Hollie Avil, 21, Hometown: Bugbrooke, Northampton, Trains: Leeds
Lois Rosindale, 21, Hometown: Leeds, Trains: Leeds
Non Stanford, 22, Hometown: Swansea, Trains: Birmingham
Jodie Stimpson, 22, Hometown: Oldbury, Trains: Birmingham
Abbie Thorrington, 24, Hometown: Ipswich, Trains: Loughborough

Junior:
Marc Austin, 17, Hometown: Glasgow, Trains: Stirling
Cameron Milne, 17, Hometown: Kinross, Trains: Stirling
Grant Sheldon, 16, Hometown: Hamilton, South Lanakshire, Trains: Stirling
Sky Draper, 15, Hometown: Northwood, Middlesex, Trains: Northwood
Lucy Hall, 19, Hometown: Lutterworth, Leicestershire, Trains: Loughborough University
Maddie Winzer, 17, Hometown: Richmond, North Yorkshire Trains: Richmond

Schedule:
Friday 24th: Junior Women 17:45, Junior Men 20:00
Saturday 25th: Elite Women 12:30, ParaTriathlon 16:00, Elite Men 19:00
Sunday 26th: Junior Mixed Team Relay 13:30

Image: Delly Carr/ITU