UK Sport

World Championship Triathlon Comes To London

Lee Taylor 17 June 2009

The Dextro Energy ITU World Triathlon Championships Series comes to London this summer, with the event being supported via UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme (WCEP).

The series sees the world’s best triathletes compete in iconic cities around the globe for World Championship points, with the Champion being crowned at the Grand Final in Australia in September.

Before that however the event comes to London’s Hyde Park on 15 August. UK Sport has invested up to £280,000 in the event, which gives Britain’s triathletes the opportunity to not only compete in front of a home crowd but also experience the 2012 venue for the first time, where they will take on their rivals from across the globe in a 1500m swim in the Serpentine, and a 40km cycle and 10km run around the park.

Around 130 athletes from up to 40 nations are expected to take part and British fans will be hoping that Alistair Brownlee can repeat his performance in Madrid, where he won the second event in the series earlier this month.

Esther Nicholls, UK Sport’s Events Consultant, said: “It is fantastic that British triathletes and fans alike will be able to get a feel of what to expect when the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to London in three years time.

“By helping to secure events in the UK through the WCEP, it enables British competitors to experience home advantage – and in this case there is the added element of competing at the 2012 venue. This is not just beneficial to the athletes but also to the event managers, volunteers and officials involved as well.”

The Elite event is part of a weekend of activity in Hyde Park which also includes an age group race which will give the public a unique opportunity to compete at the 2012 Olympic venue.

Dr Sarah Springman OBE, President of British Triathlon, said: “British Triathlon is delighted to have been chosen by the International Triathlon Union to host one of the prestigious Dextro Energy World Championship Series triathlons in London's Hyde Park as we look towards 2012. Offering exciting, spectator and media-friendly international events of the highest quality, so that our athletes can benefit while raising the profile of triathlon in the centre of London. Incorporating paratriathlon, youth and age group events confirms the inclusivity of our sport, which is widely cited as being the fastest growing in the country.”

For full event information detail please visit http://www.triathlon-wcs-london.org/

Back to news listing