The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Series is coming to London's Hyde Park on 15 and 16 August.
London will be the sixth of seven stop-overs for the Series which began recently in Korea and finishes with the Grand Final in Australia in September.
Each event features an elite men's and women's race but also an Age Group mass participation race. The event in London also hosts youth, junior and paratriathlon races and an international trade fair.
Places in the Age Group race are expected to sell out quickly. Entries are limited to just 2,100 and participants can register for the Age Group race at www.triathlon-wcs-london.org/
President of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Marisol Casado, said: "As we head towards the London Olympic Games in 2012, it is a sign of triathlon's growing stature and significance that we look forward to a race in Hyde Park as part of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all of the athletes, coaches and National Federations when I say that the triathlon family is very excited to be coming to one of the world’s greatest cities with the opportunity to race around such an iconic venue. My thanks go out to British Triathlon, London and our partners, Upsolut and Sportfive, for working so hard to make this special event happen." Dan Ritterband, Director of Marketing, Office of the Mayor of London, said: "It is fantastic that London will be hosting another world-class sporting event at one of its iconic landmarks this summer. Londoners and visitors will get a chance to not only see the world's best triathletes in action, but to compete themselves at the venue for the 2012 Games."
Event organiser Upsolut Sports and the ITU collaborated to create this new series and are working with the British Triathlon Federation on the London leg.
Athletes can earn points at each leg with the person with the most points at the end of the series being crowned World Champion. In London, the Age Group race participants are being encouraged to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the official charity partner. The London course for the elite athletes will include a 1,500m swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run. There will be a $150,000 prize fund.
