World Triathlon announces first dates of 2021 season schedule

If 2020 has been a year marked by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on events, next year is looking like a redemption year for many, with a calendar that will provide all athletes plenty of opportunities to shine. The World Triathlon Executive Board, on a meeting celebrated this Thursday, has approved the first batch of events for the 2021 season.

On May 1-2, 2021, Chengdu (China) will join the select group of cities hosting a World Triathlon Series event, with the best triathletes of the world competing on a sprint format in the magnificent scenario of the Jintang Triathlon venue.

In May, the circuit will travel to Japan for the tenth edition of WTS Yokohama, that will be held on May 15, 2021, with the World Paratriathlon Series race contested on the same day.

In order to secure a block of races in Asia, and minimizing travel as much as possible between races, the World Triathlon Executive Board also approved to have a World Cup race in Osaka (Japan) on the weekend of May 8-9.

After the postponement of the event in 2020, British Triathlon and the stakeholders of the AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds have confirmed that the race will go ahead on 5 – 6 June 2021. Fort the 5th year anniversary of the race, elite top athletes of the world will enjoy a brand-new route seeing the event start and finish in Roundhay Park. For the first time, elite paratriathletes will also be taking to the start line for the World Paratriathlon Series.

World Triathlon Executive Board also approved the confirmed dates for the Viborg Powerman Middle distance Duathlon World Championships, that after the postponement in 2020 has now been rescheduled for October 2, 2021.

World Triathlon wants to extend their gratitude to all organizing LOCS and National Federations for their continuous support setting up the calendar, and is working with a large number of applicant cities and organisers to finalise the full schedule for the 2021 season, that will be announced in the coming weeks and that will be busier than ever, with the Olympics taking place in Tokyo, followed by the Edmonton Grand Final, Tokyo Paralympic Games, Almere Multisport World Championships and Bermuda Sprint & Relay World Championships.

2020 Bonus Pool Prize Money

The Executive Board also approved the distribution of the 2020 bonus pool prize money, approved two weeks ago to try to minimize the financial impact that Covid-19 and the lack of events have had on all athletes this season. After consultations with the Athletes Committee, and a survey sent out to all elite athletes, the Board has decided to support one of the recommendations of the athletes to allocate the 2020 bonus pool prize money, 100,000 USD, equally divided to the first 50 men and 50 women on the World Triathlon 2020 ranking.

The events that will count for this Ranking will be the Hamburg World Triathlon Series (1000 points) and the Mooloolaba, Karlovy Vary, Arzachena and Valencia World Cups, with 500 points each, with Continental Cups taking place in this period will give 250 points each. The athlete score will be the addition of the points earned in a maximum of four events if the total number of events is eight or more during this period, or only three events counting if less.

The Ranking is applicable for events didn’t score this year for the World Ranking after it has been frozen till the last event no later than December 15, 2020.

Please note that the recently announced Barcelona European Cup, taking place on October 25th and counting for the rankings, will have start lists created on Monday, October 5th.

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