Lot’s of snow will provide perfect conditions for the 2004 ITU Winter
Triathlon European Championships and World Cup to be held this weekend in the
Swiss Resort of Wildhaus. The 3rd time the International Winter Triathlon
travel to the Gamserugg (2076 m) Ski
Area with Säntis (2502 m highest mountain in eastern Switzerland). Running,
Mountain biking and Cross-Country leads over 5 laps in each leg and will provide
lots of exciting for the athletes and the spectators.
In the women’s race the dual between reigning European and World
Champion Marianne Vlasveld (NED) and Sigrid Lang (GER) continues. German
athlete Jutta Schubert is also a contender. Former Swiss World Champion Karin
Möbes will give her best as will German Top Athlete Gabi Pauli who is back
after having her 2nd baby. Sarka Grabmllerova (CZE) is another
Athlete to watch.
A new champion will be crowned in the men’s event, as 2002 and 2003
titleholders are absent. While German Benjamin Sonntag began his studies
supported by a scholarship in the US, Marc Ruhe has anncouced his withdrawl
from professional Winter Triathlon and is reported to be injured. That leaves
the door open for Germans, Falk Göpfert and Thomas Schrenk, or possibly the
Norwegians; Alf Roger Holme and Frode Pedersen. Swiss athlete Christoph Mauch is unable to race due to a bought
with Mononucleose; the Helvetic hopes are on ever lasting twins Othmar and
Joseph Brügger.
The Elite and U23 race starting on Saturday at 12.30 pm (11.30 am GMT)
is leading over 8 km running, 14 km MTB and 12.5 km X-Country Skiing. Sunday
see’s first the juniors and Age group event from 10.30 am (09.30 GMT) of 3.2 km
run, 5.6 km MTB and 5 km skiing followed at 12.30 pm (11.30 am by the Team
relay).