We had a super busy aquabike racing weekend on the British Islands with 149 athletes finishing one of twelve races at eight events. Meanwhile on the continent we only had one aquabike event this weekend. Though the aquabike race at the Triathlon des Gorges de l’Ardèche in southern France is one of the hardest but also one of the most scenic races in Europe and certainly worth some attention.

So let´s start in France. With no doubt the Triathlon des Gorges de l’Ardèche is one for the bucket list. The 2.000 metre swim in the river Ardèche is followed by a 76 km bike course with about 1200 metres elevation gain through the stunning area of the réserve naturelle nationale des gorges de l’Ardèche. For the first time the event also offered an SwimBike option, with 30 athletes finishing the race. The men´s race was won by Rémy BRUYERE. The fastest bike split was not enough for Gaël LARGER, who came in second, 59 seconds behind the winner. Third places Bernard MARTINENT was about 8 minutes behind, securing the third spot on the podium just 12 seconds ahead of Franck STUTZMANN. Fastest woman of the day was Pauline MACHEBOEUF, winning the race with a time gap of almost five minutes to Laurence BOUARD. Third place was taken by Corinne GRIMAUD, another minute behind.

In Ireland we had 22 athletes finishing the aquabike race of the Two Provinces Triathlon. While Brendan DOWD won the race, 40 seconds behind it was Ivan CASEY who won the fight for second place, finishing only one second ahead of Seamus MCGARRELL. In the women´s race Deborah CARR took the win two minutes ahead of Aishling BOYD, with Ciara CRAWFORD finishing third, about 30 more seconds behind.

The biggest of the many aquabike races in England was at the Ironbourne Triathlon in Eastburne. 22 athletes finished the middle distance aquabike race. It was Greg FUNNELL – winner of last year´s long distance race – who took a predominant victory, finishing more than 15 minutes ahead of the second fastest athlete – the winner of the women´s race Katy O’NEILL. She won the women´s competition almost five minutes ahead of Fran BUNGAY who was also faster than any other man in the race. Stephen LEONARD was second in the men´s race, more than 22 minutes behind the winner. Third places in the men´s and women´s race were taken by Chris FROST and Helen VARCOE.

Only five athletes finished the long distance aquabike race. Fastest of them was the only woman in the race. Maria POWELL finished the race almost 14 minutes earlier than the fastest man Tristan MATTHEWS.

A few kilometres further west the Swashbuckler Middle Distance Triathlon saw 19 athletes finishing the aquabike race. Nathan MORGAN was the clear winner of the race. With this he climbed up the rankings, making him now #8 in Aquabike Ranking Europe. Almost seven minutes behind Matt SIVITER came in second with Mark EVANS finishing third, nine minutes behind the winner. The women´s race was won by Sara MELA, two and a half minutes ahead of Victoria HARRISON, with Clare BENT finishing third.

But there was more racing action on the southcoast. Right in the middle between the Ironbourne and the Swashbuckler we also had a race for those who like it a little shorter. The Natures Way Foods Chichester Sprint Triathlon also offered an aquabike option. Leo STIRZAKER was the fastest oft he 14 aquabike athletes, taking the win from Jon BRETT by only 13 seconds and Steven WOODBRIDGE coming in as a close third only 30 more seconds behind. Clear winner of the women´s race was Delphine LEVER with Natalie DEACON coming in second and Emily WENTWORTH in third.

In northern England we had standard and sprint distance aquabike races at the Woodhorn Museum Triathlon. In the standard distance race we had a close finish with the top three men separated by less than a minute. Michael DUNNE was the fastest, winning the race 32 seconds ahead of David ROBSON and 56 seconds ahead of David STEVENS. The win in the women´s race was much clearer. Caitlin POLLOCK was the fastest female aquabike athlete, winning the women´s competition more than nine minutes ahead of Michelle HARTLEY, with Lorraine MASTERTON coming in third. Fun fact: Neither of the podium finishers had neither the fastest swim time, nor the fastest bike split.

In the sprint distance race fastest aquabike athlete was Florence CARRUTHERS, finishing the race 53 seconds earlier than the winner of the men´s race. Doog DOUGLAS came in just two seconds ahead of Abigail COX who took second in the women´s race.

From the north to the east. The Big East Middle Distance Triathlon took place in Maldon together with the Maldon Triathlon which included standard and sprint distance aquabike races. Nick ESSER was the fastest of the six athletes finishing the middle distance race. Fastest woman of the race was Amy SOLE who extended her lead in the women´s Aquabike Ranking Europe. In the standard distance race it was Anna CARTER finishing first of the five competitors, while the fastest man Marc ROUILLION came in about seven minutes later. And finally Paul TURNEY was the fastest of the only four aquabike athletes in the sprit distance race while Bobbie WESTWOOD won the women´s competition of that race.

In the west of England we had the only “women only” aquabike race in Europe. 20 aquabike girls finished the Deva Divas Triathlon in Chester. Kate JOHNSON was the fastest of them, winning the race with a time gap of almost four minutes to Liz BOOTHROYD, and with Angella HUGHES coming in third one more minute behind.

And last but not least we had another sprint distance aquabike race at the Locko Park Triathlon in Derby. Dan JANES won the race ahead of Steve ROBINSON, while Anna DUTTON won the women´s competition with Jenna HULME coming in second.

You can find links to all full results at our aquabike race result search or check out the current Aquabike Ranking Europe.

Chapeau and congratulations to all aquabike finishers of last week´s races!