How to qualify for the Europen Aquabike Championships 2022
In my last article I wrote about the general requirements to take part in an international aquabike championship race. But there is a bit more to consider for every race. The registration always has to go through your national triathlon federation. This process is quite different in every country. In some you have to qualify or match other criteria. I checked the qualification criteria in the Top 15 European countries of our Country Ranking. So if you´re planning to be on the startline at the European Aquabike Championships in Bilbao in September, here is what it takes.
Great Britain
Athletes who were in the 2021 team at the time the team was withdrawn from the Championships were able to register to take up their 2022 PQ place in the team by 5pm Friday the 27th of August 2021. Any athletes who had a PQ from the 2021 team but did not register by the date above have relinquished their PQ and need to register with a race result to be considered for the team.
To qualify for Bilbao, athletes must supply a race result which meets the following qualifying criteria and qualification evidence:
Result from a chip timed middle or long distance race between January 2019 to the final registration cut-off date. Finishing time must be within 120% of the winner of their age group.
There are 20 places in each age group and there are indeed already more than 20 athletes registered in some age groups.
Full information on British Triathlon website: general information | information and registration for Bilbao
Apllicaton deadline: 29/04/2022
Germany
No proof of performance needed. You only need to register through the DTU application form for the aquabike race in Bilbao.
Apllicaton deadline: 01/07/2022
Spain
A maximum of 25 athletes per agegroup can start. The top 25 of each age group at last years national aquabike championships in Bilbao are qualified. Since there haven´t been more than 25 athletes in any agegroup, anyone who finished the race is qualified for the European Aquabike Championships 2022. Remaining slots can be taken at this year´s national aquabike championships. In 2022 there are national championships over two distances though and it´s not defined if results on any of them qualify for a start in Bilbao. However, if after that there are still slots remaining in an age group, they are awarded by the date of registration (first come first serve).
Full information on FETRI Website
Apllicaton deadline: 12/07/2022
France
You have to apply through the form for demande de qualification exceptionnelle 2022. Applications will be reviewed and a response will be given within the limits of the remaining quotas.
Apllicaton deadline: 27/07/2022
Austria
No qualification or proof of performance needed. You only need to register through the ÖTRV application form for international championships.
Apllicaton deadline: 24/07/2022
Ireland
According to the website of Triathlon Ireland there are 5 places per age group at each TI Sanctioned Qualifier: a) Lough Cutra Aquabike, b) BMW Triathlon National Series 2021. I don´t have any information about an aquabike ranking for the BMW Triathlon National Series though. However, if you´re Irish you have to apply early for an international championship race. Applications for all international 2022 events already closed by the end of 2021. Only Irish Athletes who are based outside Ireland had a bit more time to apply (by the End of February).
So it´s already too late for this year´s events. But maybe you´d like to make yourself familiar with the qualification and application process if you´re aiming to take part in an international championship race in 2023.
Triathlon Ireland: represent Ireland in 2022 | qualification criteria | application procedure
Apllicaton deadline: 31/12/2021
Belgium
On Belgian Triathlon website there isn´t really any information about the European Aquabike Championships – and actually the European Multisport Championships in Bilbao are not even listed on the page for international championships. I also didn´t get a reply to my email request. But you might have more luck as an athlete. So if you want to start for Belgium in Bilbao you might email to contact@triathlon.be and hope for the best 😉
Slovakia
There is no information about how to qualify or register for international championships in general. Athletes from Slovakia might contact Slovak Triathlon. There are two contacts for multisports:
Tomáš Jurkovič, koordinátor pre multišport (zimný tri/dua, kros tri/dua) – 0904 457 419; jurkovic@triathlon.sk
Ondrej Kubo, koordinátor pre multišport (akvatlon, duatlon, dlhý triatlon) – 0949 661 550; kubo@triathlon.skenmark
Denmark
No qualification or proof of performance needed. You only need to register through the Triatlon Danmark application form for the European Multisport Championships in Bilbao.
Apllicaton deadline: 07/08/2022
Netherlands
No qualification or proof of performance needed. You need to aply by email at agegroups@triathlonbond.nl.
Apllicaton deadline: 16/08/2022
Switzerland
According to Swiss Triathlon the athlete should be able to finish a race in the according category with a time gap less than 25% to the winner of his agegroup. Though you don´t have to present any race results or match any further qualification criteria. Application through 2022 International Championships registration form at Swiss Triathlon.
Apllicaton deadline: 19/06/2022
Portugal
I couldn´t find any information about qualification criteria or application process at the Federação de Triatlo de Portugal website. To find out you may contact FTP by email at secretaria@federacao-triatlo.pt or call +351 214 464 820.
Slovenia
To qualify for the European Aquabike Championships in Bilbao you have to be in the Top 3 in your age group in the previous national, european or world championships and then have to apply unitl 40 days before the competition. Since the national and world championships will take place less than 40 days before the European´s, you had to be in the Top 3 in one of last years championship races. But I also got the following information from Triatlon Slovenije by email: “But also in case someone has some good result out of Slovenian national championship, they can apply and with confirmation of MB, they can be part of national age group team.”
Apllicaton deadline: 16/08/2022
Czechia
I couldn´t find any information about qualification criteria or application process at the Česká triatlonová asociace website. To find out you may contact CTA by email at triatlonse@triatlon.cz or call + 420 242 429 259.
Apllicaton deadline: 18/08/2022
Liechtenstein
No qualification or proof of performance needed. You need to aply by email at triathlon.liechtenstein@gmail.com.
Apllicaton deadline: 14/08/2022