Lucy Gossage marked her GE Great Britain Team debut with a victory at the ETU Powerman European Long Distance & Sprint Duathlon Championships in Horst, Netherlands. She overtook the race leader in the final 5km to claim an impressive victory over the 15km run, 60km cycle and 7.5km run.
Gossage, a Cancer Research UK doctor in Cambridge, won the British Elite Duathlon Championships in March and now adds the European title to a growing list of successes.
She said: “That was a fun race, I’m so happy! I’m very pleased with my pacing. I made a few mistakes and had some issues with my bike, but I think they helped motivate me even more towards the end of the race.”
Belgium's Joerie Vansteelant won the men's title thanks to setting the fastest bike split of the day and holding on to a clear lead during the final run.
British Junior Elite Champions, Richard Horton and George Schwiening, were both successful in the Junior Sprint event in Horst.
Horton’s win at the British Championships was his debut duathlon and he claimed an impressive European title, pushing last week's ETU European Junior Triathlon Champion Matthias Steinwandter (ITA) into the bronze medal position. Britain’s Calum Johnson was fifth and Liam Lloyd eighth.
George Schwiening took the lead during the bike section but took a wrong turning that cost her the gold medal, but she did enough to recover to the silver medal position behind Sveva Fascetti (ITA).
The GE Great Britain Age Group team enjoyed a very successful weekend, winning eight gold, four silver and four bronze medals across the sprint and long distance events.
Competing in the 80-84 Age Group, Brian Foster is possibly Britain’s oldest ever medallist in international competition. He won gold in the sprint event.
Senior Long Distance event (15km / 60km / 7.5km)
Men
1. Joerie Vansteelant (BEL) 2:42:37
2. Anthony Le Duey (FRA) 2:44:20
3. Pieter Rijnders (BEL) 2:45:07
Women
1. Lucy Gossage (GBR) 3:04:50
2. Eva Nyström (SWE) 3:05:52
3. Susanne Svendsen (DEN) 3:06:12
Junior Sprint event (5km / 20km / 2.5km)
Men
1. Richard Horton (GBR) 57:10
2. Jorik van Egdom (NED) 57:14
3. Matthias Steinwandter (ITA) 57:27
Women
1. Sveva Fascetti (ITA) 1:06:54
2. Georgina Schwiening (GBR) 1:07:23
3. Anke Boer De (NED) 1:08:05
Age Group Long Distance event
GOLD
Richard Anderson (20-24)
Hilary Ross (55-59)
Peter Wheddon (55-59)
SILVER
Christopher Dettmar (40-44)
Age Group sprint event
GOLD
Helen Russell (35-39)
Phil Holland (35-39)
Dave Littlemore (60-64)
Edward Snelling (65-69)
Brian Forster (80-84)
SILVER
Farah Azirar (30-34)
Nick Shasha (35-39)
Maurice Young (75-79)
BRONZE
Gavin Hodgson (30-34)
Neil Aitken (35-39)
Steven Hacking (45-49)
Peter Howard (75-79)
