Triathlon in Vichy

Lukas Pertl wants to start the European Championships “aggressively”

Lukas Pertl had to retire in the Czech Republic.(Bild: Lukas Pertl)

Lukas Pertl attacks at the European Championships in Vichy. The elite of triathlon sport comes together in the French town, so a good placing would be worth a lot.

"A botched dress rehearsal makes for a successful performance," is a well-known saying. If you believe this, things are going really well for triathlete Lukas Pertl at his European Championship performance over the Olympic distance in Vichy (Fra). Two weeks ago in Karlovy Vary (Tch), he had to retire injured while in a good position on the bike, his back was hurting. "So there wasn't much to digest," smiles Pertl, whose brother Philip is not starting.

 "I feel very well prepared," says the man from Gastein, who only arrived on Thursday evening after a stressful journey. "You have to approach it aggressively, the field is difficult to assess," says the 29-year-old. Because the participants include the third-placed athlete from last year's European Championships, the World Cup winner from Valencia and many more. That's why Pertl knows: "It's not easy to achieve a good ranking. Europe is the center of the triathlon world. A top place would be worth a lot."