Set in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, Vallée de Joux plays host this Saturday to the 2016 ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships as the best of Europe’s off-road triathletes arrive for XTERRA Switzerland

Running alongside the established XTERRA Switzerland event, the ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships will see athletes racing over a 1.5km swim, 36km MTB ride and closing with a 10km run.

The swim section comprises of two laps of 750m in Lake Brenet before athletes head out for two, 18km loops on mountain bikes. The route includes a combination of single track, wider trails and river crossings but is not considered highly technical. The event finishes with two laps of trail running, totaling 10km, with one significant climb on each circuit.

Last year’s championship event in Schluchsee, Germany, saw the Great Britain Age-Group team return home with three Gold, two Silver, and two Bronze medals. William Hammerton, Gold medallist last time around in the 65-69 category, returns to race again, this time having moved up in to the M70-74 event. Sarah Bakewell (25-29) and Guy Evans (50-54) are also back to try and improve on their Silver medals from Germany.

Representing Great Britain for the first time at Elite level this weekend, we asked experienced Cross Triathlon specialist Henry Sleight about his expectations for the race:

“After racing at the XTERRA Switzerland event last year, the great organisation and picturesque setting lends itself perfectly to hosting the ETU Cross Triathlon Championships. The organiser has commented on the unseasonal weather over the past few weeks, and I am hoping that has watered the course nicely so the Great Britain team can excel in the muddy conditions. It’s my first time racing in the GB Elite team and I am looking forward to racing a large Elite men’s field of 41, made even stronger with the addition of many non European entries.”

The Great Britain Elite women all have experience of the XTERRA Switzerland event, with Louise Fox (8th) and Jessica Roberts (10th) all having race last year. The third member of the team, Jacqui Slack, finished third back in 2012, though that was at a different venue. She has plenty of experience from events all over the world however, and will see this as an opportunity for an international podium finish, having taken fourth place at the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships last year.

Vallée de Joux ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships – Saturday 25th June 2016
1.5km / 36km / 10km

Event Website: http://www.xterraswitzerland.ch/en/index.php

Great Britain Elite athletes racing in Vallée de Joux:

Elite Women:
Louise Fox, Jessie Roberts, Jacqui Slack

Elite Men:
Henry Sleight

Full start list: http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2016_vallee_de_joux_etu_cross_triathlon_european_championships