The European Cup (elites and juniors) and the Portuguese Triathlon Cup races start this Saturday, March 23, in Quarteira, with a total of 700 athletes.
«We have all the conditions to have one of the most spectacular races in recent years in Quarteira, with the presence of several important names in world triathlon, including a two-time world champion and several Olympic athletes who will be at Paris 2024. I am sure that it will be another great celebration of the sport in a place with excellent conditions for triathlon", highlighted Sérgio Dias, president of the Portuguese Triathlon Federation, in a press conference this Friday.
Names such as Frenchman Vicent Luis, two-time world champion in 2019 and 2020, and his compatriot Cassandre Beuagrand, current number two in the world rankings, will pass through the municipality of Loulé.
For sports councilor at Loulé City Council Carlos Carmo, «there is no doubt that Quarteira will be the European capital of triathlon during the weekend, with restaurants and hotels registering an above-average occupation».
The European Elites Cup will be played on Saturday, March 23, and will feature six national representatives in the men's sector and one more in the women's competition.
In men, Portugal will have Hugo Figueiredo, João Mansos, João Nuno Batista, João Pereira, Miguel Tiago Silva and Pedro Gaspar. Among the women, Madalena Almeida joins. In total, more than 300 athletes from 30 countries will fill the streets of the city in the municipality of Loulé.
Olympian João Pereira, bronze medalist in 2023, expects «a very competitive race given the presence of a promising new generation of athletes», but admits that he wants «to be ahead on an afternoon where anything can happen thanks to the great support of the public of Quarteira».
Madalena Almeida, the only Portuguese representative in the women's elite race, also makes a point of highlighting the support of the people of the Algarve «which even makes us forget the toughness of the race». The elite competition takes place at the Olympic distance (1,5km swimming, 40km cycling and 10km running).
For the Junior European Cup, to be held on the 24th, Sunday morning, Portugal will present a team with 16 members, eight women and as many men, in the sprint distance (750m swimming, 20km cycling and 5km running).
The Quarteira Triathlon program will close in the early afternoon with more than 450 athletes competing in the Portuguese Cup.
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