Recent broadcast figures demonstrate the continued growing demand to watch the sport of triathlon, as the ITU Mixed Relay World Championships and ITU World Triathlon Hamburg garnered top numbers. Taking 10% of the market share on the weekend of 18-19 July on German broadcaster ARD, more viewers in Germany tuned in for triathlon than the Tour de France!
“Not only is triathlon challenging to do, but it’s exciting to watch,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Our athletes swim, bike and run at the highest level all in one race. Their level of athleticism is unbelievable and people want to see them race. Both the individual races and Mixed Relay offer non stop action, from lead changes to come from behind finishes to down to the line sprints that engage the public.”
At its peak, 1.49 million viewers tuned in for the ITU Mixed Relay World Championships on ARD to watch the woman-man-woman-man relay in which each athlete competes in a mini triathlon. The figures further cement ITU’s ambition to include Mixed Relay on the Olympic program.
A day earlier, 1.18 million viewers watched the men compete, while 1.06 million viewers watched the women’s races on ARD. Overall, both days attracted more viewership than the Tour de France on the network, which had 1.12 million viewers on Saturday 18 July and 1.36 million viewers on Sunday 19 July.
Not only was the race successful on television, crowds came out in the hundreds of thousands to watch the elites compete with nearly 250,000 spectators lining up to cheer them on despite rainy conditions on Sunday.
