The European Triathlon Union (ETU) and International Powerman Association (IPA) have extended their cooperation by allocating the qualification event for the World Games in Cali to the ETU Powerman European Championships in Horst an de Maas, Holland.
Alongside the Long Distance Qualification event for Elite and U23 duathletes, there will also be a European Junior Championship for junior athletes at the Sprint Distance. Age Group athletes can choose between European Championships at both distances.
All qualifying events will take place in Holland on Sunday 21 April 2013. The 2013 World Games will take place in the city of Cali, Colombia, from 25 July to 4 August.
This latest tie-up between ETU and IPA follows an extensive, but unsuccessful search to find an appropriate location for the 2013 Duathlon Standard Distance European Championship.
President Renato Bertrandi said “The ETU Executive Board is confident that the Organising Committee will deliver an excellent event: a real duathlon festival. The ETU and the LOC would like to invite all athletes to compete in the biggest European Duathlon event of 2013.”
John Raadschelders, President of Powerman Holland, said “We are delighted and proud to organise the 2013 Duathlon European Championships in both Long Distance and Sprint Distance disciplines.”
He added, “It is even more special for all of us that we will go in the history books as being the very first qualifying race in Europe for Duathlon in the World Games in Cali.
“My last words for now: If you’re tough – be there at the start line on Horst on April 21.”
Joerie Vansteelant (BEL) and Lucy Gossage (GBR) were crowned ETU Long Distance European Duathlon Champions in 2012. Tim Van Hemel (BEL) and Arina Shulgina (RUS) took the U23 Sprint Duathlon titles.
etu.triathlon.org
www.powerman.nl
