UK sports fans should mark their calendar for Saturday 31 May as this year’s event promises to be a greater spectacle than ever before. This is the fifth time London will host a leg of the ITU World Triathlon Series. The race will see the likes of Olympic Gold medal winner, Alistair Brownlee, and his brother, bronze medal winner, Jonathan Brownlee, as well as reigning World Champion, Non Stanford, competing head to head against the world’s best triathletes.

 

For the first time, both elite male and female races will be staged back to back over the shorter Sprint Distance (750m Swim, 20km bike, 5km run), providing a fantastic experience for fans. Both races are scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 31 May on a spectator friendly course in Hyde Park, with fans able to watch two world-class sporting events within a two and a half hour window.

 

While the majority of both races are free to watch, organisers have announced ticket details for the Grandstand situated on the finish line. Ticketholders will be able to watch both races from the Grandstand in Hyde Park, with a direct view of the swim start, transition area and finish line.  Big screens will show live pictures throughout the race. 

 

Tickets will be available at £25 per adult and £10 for children. Tickets will go on sale exclusively to pre-registered fans at 10am on 17 April, with remaining tickets going on sale to the public at 10am on 21 April. Fans can pre-register for tickets up until midnight on 15 April for free at www.worldtrilondon.com

 

Organisers also announced today the release of further entries for the Mass Participation races the following day, on Sunday 1 June. While Saturday will see the world’s best athletes going head to head, Sunday is reserved for recreational participants of all abilities.

 

The Mass Participation races will see more than 5,000 participants taking on a triathlon challenge themselves. With a similar course and venue layout to the elite races, friends and family will be able to follow participants from start to finish. 

 

Nearly a third of participants are novices to the sport of triathlon and with distances starting as short as 400m swim, 15km bike and 2.5k run, this is the perfect starting point. 

 

For those that are not yet convinced to tackle all three disciplines, there is still an opportunity to complete a triathlon in the Olympic Triathlon venue of Hyde Park as part of a relay team. A relay consists of three people: one swimmer, one cyclist, one runner. For full entry options and Grandstand ticket pre-registration visit www.worldtrilondon.com

 

The event, organised by Lagardère Unlimited Events UK and British Triathlon, forms part of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series, an ambitious National Lottery funded programme which aims to bring up to 70 world-class sporting events to Great Britain over the next six years and is supported by the Mayor of London. PruHealth will title sponsor the event for the second year.

 

Neville Koopowitz, CEO PruHealth & Vitality said: 

“PruHealth and PruProtect are very proud to be sponsoring the London leg of the ITU World Triathlon Series for the second year running. This fantastic sport brings together people of all ages and abilities as well as some of the world’s greatest triathletes in what is set to be another great UK event. 

 

“Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a triathlon first timer or the support team for family and friends; The PruHealth World Triathlon London in Hyde Park will be a great day out for everyone. 

 

With more and more people taking up Triathlon every year, we’re excited to be working together with ITU to promote the benefits of leading a healthy and active lifestyle, inspiring people to get out there and get involved”

 

Simon Morton, UK Sport Director of Major Events, said: 

“This is the fifth occasion we have been able to support the hosting of the ITU World Triathlon Series in London and it offers the chance for thousands of people to watch or participate in a world-class event staged in a world famous city.

 

“Through our ambitious Gold Event Series we have put in place what is believed to be the most complete post-Olympic and Paralympic Games major events legacy programme of any host nation with more than 35 already secured.

 

“The combination of outstanding venues, technical know-how, passionate fans and thousands of experienced volunteers mean the UK is recognised as one of the best places in the world to stage international sport.”

 

Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events at London & Partners, the Mayor’s promotional organisation, said: 

“The PruHealth World Triathlon London is a great Olympic and Paralympic legacy event on the international sporting calendar and it is one of the many world-class events the capital will be hosting this year. Triathlon is a fast growing sport and is proving extremely successful across the world. Last year tens of thousands of athletes and spectators travelled from all corners of the globe to attend the event which will hopefully inspire generations of triathletes in the future.”

 

Jon Ridgeon, Director Major and National Events at British Triathlon said:

“Triathlon is a healthy successful sport in the UK and the ITU World Triathlon Series race in our Olympic venue Hyde Park epitomises all of that.   Last year we saw thousands of age-group athletes from all over the world competing in the Grand Final for World Championship medals. In the elite races, Non Stanford was crowned World Champion and in 2012, Alistair Brownlee was crowned Olympic Champion. We are hopeful that this success story continues in 2014 and encourage everybody to come down to Hyde Park and to cheer on all our athletes.”

 

Robert Püstow, Managing Director of Lagardère Unlimited Events UK said:

“The PruHealth World Triathlon is the most iconic short distance triathlon in the world. Hyde Park is on its way to becoming for triathlon what Wimbledon is for tennis. With the difference being in Hyde Park everybody can challenge themselves on an Olympic and World Championship venue. There is no better triathlon to take part in. 30% of our participants being new to the sport, proves that this event is for everybody. You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to compete in an Olympic venue. Come and watch. Come and take part.”

 

 

Saturday 31 May 2014

08:00 - 10:00 Paratriathlon

10:45 – 12:45 Sprint Relay Challenge

14:30 – 15:30 Elite Men 

16:05 – 17:05 Elite Women 

 

Sunday 01 June 2014

07:00 – 19:00 Open Race Triathlon (Individual & Relays)

 

Full course and schedule details: www.WorldTriLondon.com