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Several Irish athletes travelled to Vichy, France, for the final standard distance continental triathlon championships of the year. The elite fields for the 2024 Europe Triathlon Championships Vichy were faced with a river swim consisting of one large lap, an Aussie exit, followed by a small lap, before transitioning onto a fast 5.7km bike course along the riverside for seven laps and battling it out over three 3.3km laps on the run.

Both Jonathan Oakey and Russell White were in action in the Men’s Elite race. Oakey produced a solid swim to join the chase pack out on the bike course. Having exited the water 20 seconds back, White had to work a bit harder to bridge the gap on the bike.

Onto the run, with Oakey covering the 9.9km flat and fast course in 32:06 for 28th place overall in the Men’s Elite field in a time of 1:44:23. White, who was taking part in his 12th European Championship to date, came home just two minutes later for 33rd in 1:46:29. The race was ultimately won by Csongor Lehmann of Hungary, who earned the European top spot for the first time.

Elizabeth Carr faced a hard day in the Elite Women’s race exiting the water some 40 seconds back on the race leaders. With her chase group splitting, not in her favour, Carr persisted and pushed home to take 26th overall in a time of 1:58:36. Former world champion, Olympic medallist and Commonwealth Games medallist, Vicky Holland was the eventual winner, claiming the European title which had previously alluded her.

Carr will line up in Italy in two weeks time for the 2024 World Triathlon Cup Rome.

Para-Athletes in Action in Vichy

Ireland was also well represented in Vichy in the Paratriathlon sprint distance event, with Tom Williamson PTS5 bringing home a European Championship bronze medal in his preparations for the 2024 World Triathlon Para Championships, Torremolinos-Andalucia, Spain, in October.

The para-triathletes faced only a single lap swim of 750m, before a slightly extended version of the same bike course as their counterparts a day previous, although for just three laps, and an equally flat and fast out and back run course to complete the distance.

Williamson led the race out of the water, produced a strong bike, and boasted a 17:38 5k to round out his race and secure his first European Championship medal.

Donnacha McCarthy and his guide, Sean Husband, had their work cut out from them exiting the water in 10th position. The duo blasted through the 20.1k bike course in 27:24 before running down a number of their rivals to finish in 7th place overall. They will now switch their focus to the 2024 World Triathlon Para Championships in Spain next month.

In the Women’s PTVI Judith MacCombe and her guide, Eimear Nicolls, came back from a two and half minute deficit on the race leader out of the water to cross the line in 4th place. The pair produced the fastest bike and run splits of the race which will surely provide some confidence as they continue to prepare for the 2024 World Triathlon Para Championships in October.

Chloe MacCombe and her guide, Catherine Sands, were also in flying form, finishing 5th. The pair will also be contending for the 2024 World Triathlon Para Championships next month.