Europe Triathlon

In the heart of Catalonia, Spain, the picturesque town of Banyoles serves as a gem for sports enthusiasts worldwide. Famous for its serene lake, Banyoles has a rich history in hosting international sports competitions, with triathlon being a particular favorite in the region. With its tranquil lake, challenging cycling trails, and flat run courses, the town offers the perfect triathlon terrain that athletes can only dream of. This weekend, the town was proud host of the European Youth Festival Championship, marking yet another milestone in Banyoles’s distinguished history in the world of triathlon.

On Friday in the Youth Finals, Tristan Douche from France and Fanni Szalai from Hungary were crowned as the first champions of the European Youth Festival Championship. The event kicked off on Thursday with the semifinals and continued until Saturday with the Mixed Team Relays.

The men’s final of the European Youth Championship started promptly at 7 pm. The race was competitive from the swim, with 31 triathletes who had achieved the best times in Thursday’s semi-finals battling for the top spot. The race concluded with an intense final sprint, where Frenchman Tristan Douche (20:04) managed to secure the victory, leaving his fellow countryman Milan Lariviere (20:06) in second place, and Belgian athlete Jens Smolders (20:12) in the third position. The women’s final also was packed with intensity right from the start. The lineup was impressive, featuring competitors who had posted the best times in Thursday’s semi-finals. Fanni Szalai from Hungary stood out in the competition, finishing the race in 21:59, with an incredible run. This superb performance propelled her to victory, crowning her as the European Champion. French triathlete, Ambre Grasset, put on a commendable performance, navigating the course in 22:08 to secure the second position. Her fellow countrywoman and last year’s winner, Léa Houart, not far behind, completed the race in 22:15, earning the third position. The competition was close, with only seconds separating the top three athletes.

On Saturday in the early afternoon, the Europe Triathlon Youth Mixed Relay Championship took place, with the French team showing a clear dominance from the first relay. The team, composed of Tristan Douche, Léa Houart, Milan Lariviere, and Ambre Grasset, won the gold with a time of 1:24:47. They were closely followed by the Hungarian team made up of Zalán Trungel-Nagy, Zsófia Baier, Donat Rozsavolgyi, and Fanni Szalai. The Spanish team, consisting of Lucas García, Cristina Jiménez-Orta, Héctor Tolsà, and Lucía Piñón, rounded off the podium with a well-earned bronze medal.

You can rewatch the races on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@europetriathlon/streams

The event has once again highlighted Banyoles’s stature in the international triathlon scene and its continuing commitment to promoting sportsmanship, competition, and international camaraderie.