The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has confirmed the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series (WTS) calendar, as well as the opening of bids for the 2020 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.
Having had its debut this year, Leeds in Yorkshire returns to next year’s schedule.
Back in 2014, ITU has announced that Mexico will host the 28th edition of the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in 2016; while Rotterdam, Netherlands, will organise the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.
2017 ITU World Triathlon Series calendar:
Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 3-4
Gold Coast, Australia – April 8-9
Yokohama, Japan – May 13-14
Leeds, England – June 10-11
Hamburg, Germany – July 15-16
Edmonton, Canada – Dates TBD
Stockholm, Sweden – August 26-27
Rotterdam, Netherlands – September 14-17
Distances for each race will be confirmed at a later date, and additional events could be added following the ITU Executive Board meeting in Brazil this summer.
“The World Triathlon Series is the pinnacle of elite triathlon racing,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “The WTS has been paramount in bringing international attention to triathlon by holding races in iconic locations that are broadcast to a global audience.”
She continued, “The series not only serves as the pathway to World Championship titles and Olympic qualification in iconic locations, but also offers thousands of age groupers around the world the opportunity to race on similar courses as the professionals in a close environment. I’m confident that next year’s calendar will again impress our elite athletes, age groupers and fans everywhere.”
The 2017 WTS will get underway in Abu Dhabi after successfully kicking off the series the last two years. Gold Coast, which will host the Grand Final for the second time in 2018, next returns for a third consecutive appearance on the WTS calendar.
Long-time host Yokohama lines up as the third leg of the series before the circuit then touches down in Europe for stopovers in Leeds and Hamburg.
Leeds enjoyed an enthusiastic debut on the World Triathlon Series this year with in excess of 80,000 spectators lining the streets to cheer on the elites. Similarly, the German city of Hamburg annually welcomes more than 10,000 age groupers and has hosted a WTS race each year since its inception in 2009.
The tour will then return to Edmonton, Canada, which served as the Grand Final host in 2014 and has since continued on as a World Triathlon Series host in every consequent year.
The circuit will head back to Europe for two final WTS races in August and September. Stockholm, which will organize its fifth World Triathlon Series event next weekend, will serve as the penultimate event before the Grand Final in 2017.
Hosting the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships this summer, Rotterdam will next year welcome thousands of age group athletes, along with junior, U23, paratriathlon & elite athletes to vie for World Championship titles.
ITU has also opened bidding for the 2020 Grand Final. The deadline for presenting bids is 18 August, with local organising committees to present to the ITU Executive Board on 10 December in Madrid, Spain, at which point the Board will elect a host city.
Commenting on the addition of Leeds to next year’s ITU World Triathlon Series, Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake said “We are thrilled that the ITU has chosen Leeds to again host a round of the World Triathlon Series in 2017. The elite races at the event earlier this month were fantastic to experience, the crowd support and atmosphere was absolutely electric, so we look forward to working with the ITU, British Triathlon, UK Sport and all the partners involved to make it even bigger and better next year.
“In a hugely successful first year for both spectators and elite athletes, we learnt a great deal about delivering an event of this scale across the city. We know there are aspects which can and must be improved upon and we will support British Triathlon to ensure everyone taking part has a wonderful experience as part of something very special again here in Leeds next year.”
