Holten, Netherlands - Swiss-miss Nicola Spirig took top honours at the 2009 Holten ETU Triathlon European Championships. Spirig stamped her arrival back to the international racing scene after taking the first half of the year off.
photo Silke Insel/Triathlon.org
In the women's race the silver medal was taken by Elizabeth May from Luxembourg and the bronze went to the Portugal's Olympic silver medallist, Vanessa Fernandes. The last time Fernandes won a bronze medal on a European Championships was back in 2002 as a junior athlete. Since then, however, she has collected one junior and five consecutive elite European titles. This was Fernandes' 2009 return after a lengthy absence due to a broken collarbone.
2009 Holten ETU Triathlon European Championships 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run Elite Women - Unofficial Results Gold - Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:55:42 Silver - Elizabeth May (LUX) 1:56:10 Bronze - Vanessa Fernandes 1:56:32 4th - Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:57:00 5th - Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1:57:15 6th - Hollie Avil (GBR) 1:57:22 7th - Irina Abysova (RUS) 1:57:35 8th - Melanie Annaheim (SUI) 1:57:35 9th - Helle Frederiksen (DEN) 1:57:36 10th - Lisa Mensink (NED) 1:57:46
