Roberto Sánchez Mantecón wins European bronze in Tarragona
Roberto Sánchez Mantecón She won the bronze medal at the 2026 European Triathlon Championships in Tarragona, on a day with victories for Lisa Tertsch and Oliver Conway.
El European 2026 Triathlon Championship It was played this Saturday in Tarragona over Olympic distance, with 1.500 meters of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling and 10 kilometers of running.
The event yielded one of the best pieces of news for Spanish triathlon at the start of this cycle: Roberto Sánchez Mantecón He returned to a continental podium with a hard-fought bronze medal in front of a devoted crowd in the Port of Tarragona area.
Roberto Sánchez Mantecón, bronze medalist after a race that improved as it went on
The men's race began with a fast swim, in which the Hungarians Márk Dévay y Zalan Hobor, along with the Spanish Alberto GonzálezThey were among the first to arrive at T1.
A large group of over 30 triathletes formed during the cycling leg, although the race began to break apart on the fifth lap. That's when [name of triathlete] appeared. Sanchez Mantecon, who managed to get into a six-man breakaway alongside the Briton Oliver Conway, one of the strongest names in the race.
That move proved decisive. The group reached the second transition with a lead of nearly half a minute, leaving the battle for medals wide open in the final 10 kilometers.
Conway took the lead from the very first meters of the run and opened up a sufficient advantage to control the race. Behind him, Sánchez Mantecón steadily climbed through the field and even positioned himself in direct contention for the silver medal.
The finish was incredibly tense. The Valencian rider had practically secured second place with 200 meters to go, but the Briton Michael Gar He appeared strongly in the final meters to snatch the silver.
Conway was crowned European champion with a time of 1:47:08, followed by Gar and by a Roberto Sánchez Mantecón who completed the podium with a highly valued bronze medal.
Great performance by the Spanish men's team
The Spanish performance did not stop at the podium. Antonio Serrat He staged a great comeback in the running leg and finished fourth, just 19 seconds behind Sánchez Mantecón.
Izan Edo He also completed a very solid race to finish seventh, confirming the good level of the Spanish team in a demanding and hot race.
Alberto González, who was a key player in the early stages after a strong swim, finished in 18th position, while Eduardo Blanco Spain's men's team finished in 21st place.
Top men's team at the 2026 European Triathlon Championship
| Job title | Triathlete | Country | Time / difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oliver Conway | Britain | 1:47:08 |
| 2 | Michael Gar | Britain | + 0: 37 |
| 3 | Roberto Sánchez Mantecón | Spain | + 0: 53 |
| 4 | Antonio Serrat | Spain | + 1: 11 |
| 7 | Izan Edo | Spain | + 1: 33 |
Lisa Tertsch wins the women's race
The women's race opened the elite day with a very close race from the start. The Hungarian Marta Kropkó It was the first reference point after the swim, with a large group entering the first transition.
During the cycling segment, several triathletes tried to break away from the pack, including Italy's Sacchi, Germany's Rust, Austria's Feuersinger, and Great Britain's Rainsley. The group grew larger as the kilometers passed, while Lisa Tertsch It always remained well positioned.
The German athlete arrived in Tarragona as one of the top favorites. A world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the mixed relay in Paris, Tertsch once again demonstrated her ability to manage tactical races and deliver results in crucial moments.
The running race set the stage for the final duel for the title. jolien vermeylenThe reigning continental champion managed to make contact with Tertsch halfway through the segment, and together with Valentina Riasova and the Polish Slupek formed the group that would compete for the medals.
Riasova launched her sprint less than a kilometer from the finish, but Tertsch responded decisively and crossed the finish line as the new European champion with a time of 2:00:56Vermeylen was second and Riasova completed the podium.
Marta Pintanel, best Spanish player in Tarragona
In Spanish key, Marta Pintanel She was the highest-ranked woman in the category, finishing in 12th place. The runner from Aragon improved throughout the race, gaining positions in the final stages thanks to a strong running segment.
Ana Carballo finished 18th and Cecilia Santamaría She finished 19th, completing a solid Spanish performance in a highly competitive race. Other participants included Sara Guerrero y Maite Jiménez-Orta.
Women's podium of the 2026 European Triathlon Championship
| Job title | Triathlete | Country | Time / difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisa Tertsch | Germany, | 2:00:56 |
| 2 | jolien vermeylen | Belgium | + 0: 02 |
| 3 | Valentina Riasova | AIN | + 0: 04 |
| 12 | Marta Pintanel | Spain | + 2: 00 |
Ten Spanish medals in sprint age groups
The Spanish team also played a prominent role in the age group events. In the Sprint European ChampionshipThe Spanish triathletes achieved a total of 10 medals: one gold, three silver and six bronze.
Spanish medalists in sprint age groups
| Medal | Triathlete | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Francesc De Lanuza Gimeno | 50-54 |
| Silver | Pablo Fernández | 20-24 |
| Silver | Raúl Martín Núñez | 30-34 |
| Silver | Asier Astigarraga Olaizola | 55-59 |
| Bronze | Abel Reyes Valenzuela | 20-24 |
| Bronze | Sergi Lasheras Rabionet | 45-49 |
| Bronze | Albert Torres Carles | 50-54 |
| Bronze | Victor Dobaño Lazaro | 55-59 |
| Bronze | Assumpta Castelltort Amorós | 65-69 |
| Bronze | José Muñoz Vega | 75-79 |
The competition continues in Tarragona on Sunday
The 2026 European Triathlon Championship will continue this Sunday with the age group standard distance races starting at 8:00 a.m.
In the afternoon, starting at 15:00 PM, it will be the turn of European Paralympic Triathlon Championship, which will close a weekend of international competition in Tarragona.
For Spanish triathlon, the elite stage leaves one clear takeaway: the bronze medal of Roberto Sánchez Mantecón, the fourth place of Antonio Serrat and the performance of the men's team reinforces the Spanish presence in an important phase of the international calendar.
