ITU Revamp World Triathlon Series – New Name, Schedule and Destinations
The triathlon season staple, formerly known as the WTS or ‘World Triathlon Series’ has taken on a new name this year, and the racing schedule, partially due to Covid-19, will look a little different in 2021 compared to previous seasons.
The renamed ‘World Triathlon Championship Series’ has generally consisted of 5 to 6 races leading up to the pinnacle of the series, the grand final. Here the new World Champions are crowned victorious and the extra points available at this event makes the scramble for the podium a real free for all. With the series having generally started in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of March, it may shock some people to find out that this year’s series will not be starting until May, with the first race an Olympic distance event in Yokohama, Japan. Originally, Abu Dhabi was set to host the first event, but are now hosting the final event, which according to the ITU’s official statement will not only allow for the current Covid-19 restrictions to ease but also serve as a test event for 2022, where Abu Dhabi will host the World Triathlon Championship Finals.
After racing at Yokohama, the athletes will head to the famous Leeds race course, a ITU calendar staple since 2016. It will then move to the first of two Candian cities, Montreal before heading back to Hamburg in Europe, where the city will celebrate its 20th successive season as the host of one of triathlon’s biggest races. Hamburg will be the final race before the Tokyo Olympics, which will be followed by the ITU Championships Final in Edmonton, Canada. There is no world championship series racing in September, but we get started again in Bermuda, midway through October. Finally, the athletes will finish their 6-month long season in Asia, with races in Chengdu and Abu Dhabi.
Chengdu has been a staple on the World Cup circuit over the past decade and the city has now been granted the right to host an event on the highest echelon of racing. Like the Abu Dhabi event, the Chengdu contest has been postponed to after the Grand Final due to the ongoing severity of the coronavirus pandemic in China. A date for the race is set to be announced in the upcoming weeks, most likely in November, where athletes will race a sprint distance event in a purpose-built venue for Triathlon.
Full World Triathlon Championship Series Schedule
| Yokohama, Japan | May 15th |
| Leeds, UK | June 6th |
| Montreal, Canada | June 24th |
| Hamburg, Germany | July 10th |
| World Triathlon Championship Final in Edmonton, Canada | August 17th to August 22nd |
| World Sprint and Mixed Relay Championships in Bermuda. | October 15th to October 17th |
| Abu Dhabi, UAE | November 5th to November 6th |
| Chengdu, China | Date TBC |
