The men’s 2023 European champion will be suiting up in the colours of Absolute Teamsport KTT 01 in next season’s Bundesliga.
David Castro Fajardo, the gold medallist at the European Championships in Madrid, has been revealed as the latest signing of the KTT 01 men’s team. The winner of the World Cup in Huatulco this year and the World Cup in Vina del Mar in 2022, Castro brings a wealth of experience to the team. More pertinently, he also instantly provides a race-winning threat to the KTT 01 squad.
With a best finish coming from Peter Denteneer’s 15th place in Tübingen, KTT 01 struggled to put men in top-10 contention in 2023. With Castro, they should be able to change that.
The team finished 11th overall in the 2023 Bundesliga. With the addition of Castro, though, they can look to rise in the table. Of course, much will depend on how often Castro races. Should KTT 01 get at least two or three appearances from him, he could transform their prospects.
KTT 01 have also been actively recruiting for their women’s team. They have brought onboard the European Youth champion, Fanni Szalai.
A winner of two European Junior Cups in 2023 (in Caorle and Tiszaujvaros), Szalai is a phenomenal talent. Being only born in 2008, it would be wise to maintain moderate expectations of her. Nevertheless, such has been the start to her international career she will likely be able to chip in with valuable points.
Whereas Castro is a sure-fire gold medal contender, at this stage Szalai’s targets can be a little more reasonable. KTT 01 also noted that they plan for her to start at two Bundesliga races in 2024 to carefully manage her development. At the same time, if she continues on her current trajectory, it would be no surprise to see her pop off with a couple of big results.
Away from KTT 01, another noteworthy transfer has taken place in the women’s competition.
Julia Bröcker will be making the move from Triathlon Potsdam to Dr. Loges Triathlon-Team Lüneburg. In 2022, Bröcker was a part of Potsdam’s championship winning squad. Since then, she has developed considerably. At the European Cup in Alanya in October, she claimed her first international win with a terrific performance.
Bröcker’s move will strength a Lüneburg team that is coming off a fantastic 2023 campaign. Lüneburg finished 5th overall (tied on points with Witten in 4th place). Right behind them, KTT 01 took 6th while Potsdam claimed 7th place after missing the second round in Schliersee.
All three teams will look to make a move onto the overall podium, a task made easier by the folding of the defending champions, EJOT-Team TV Buschhütten.
By adding Bröcker to a team already on the rise, Lüneburg will head into 2024 primed to take a run at the title.
