Belgium and Switzerland on top in Denmark at European Long Distance Duathlon Championships

With a new venue in Copenhagen this time around, recent years being based at the long-running Powerman Holland in Horst aan de Maas, both Elite events saw close racing today with the winners only decided in the final stages.

Having won Silver and Gold in the last two editions, Belgium's Kenneth Vandendriessche was able to defend his title with the margin at the finish just nine seconds over team mate Seppe Odeyn. The opening 10km run and 60km bike had done little to split the key contenders, with five athletes lockedd together with just 5km of running remaining. If the Vandendriessche name is familiar, it may be because last week he took the hours at the Volcano Triathlon in Lanzarote, just getting the better of Stephen Bayliss in the final stages of the run at Club La Santa.

The women's Elite race saw three athletes, Nina Brenn (SUI), Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN) and Susanne Svendsen (DEN) start the final 10km run separated by just 18 seconds, with Great Britain's Victoria Gill three minutes further back.

Third last year, Stage Nielsen would prove to be the best of the Danish pairing... but it wasn't quite enough for a home victory as Nina Brenn took the title for Switzerland.

4th today (or first non medallist?!) at #powermandenmark today. Mixed feelings but fun race. pic.twitter.com/gKs985j3S3

— Victoria Gill (@vickstertri) 8 May 2016

We'll have the full details on the GB Age-Group results for you shortly, once they are fully finalised, but we can confirm that the ever brilliant Gill Fullen (50-54) not only won Gold again, but was also the fastest female Age-Group athlete overall with the sixth fastest time of the day (2:56:20). The first GB Male Age-Group athlete appears to be Chris Nicoll (2:39:59), who was Bronze medal winner in M45-49.

In addition to that, we also profiled Denmark's legendary 5-time Olympic medal winning rower, Eskild Ebbesen - and it looks like he has won a Silver medal in M40-44, having finished the first run 20th in his category and finished the bike in first with what may well be one of the fastest bike splits of the day... including the Elites. Clearly, a man able to translate his sporting talents!

ETU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon European Championships - Sunday 8th May 2016
10km / 60km / 10km

British Elite Men

11th - Lee Piercy - 2:34:20
13th - Julian Lings - 2:34:54
17th - Peter Ellis - 2:38:53
19th - Chris Roxburgh - 2:44:02
21st - Alan Murchison - 2:54:36

Good @BritTri showing at Euro champs #powermandenmark. Team work! @tri247 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/EqdRJlPl6t

— Victoria Gill (@vickstertri) 8 May 2016