Both events are set to take place on August 20-21 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Now part of the Dextro Energy Triathlon Series, the races will feature live broadcasts as well as have the same branding and look as every other event in the series. It is hoped that the higher profile of the Team Triathlon World Championships will bolster the ITU’s bid to have the event included on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games programme.
Athletes will have the opportunity to earn points in the Sprint World Championships towards their overall Dextro Energy Triathlon Series rankings, which will determine the ITU world champions, but neither event will have Olympic qualifying points on offer.
“We are extremely pleased to raise our Team and Sprint Championships into the premier triathlon series in the world,” said ITU president Marisol Casado. “This is another important step forward in our dream to have Team Triathlon included on the Olympic Games programme. Both the Sprint and Team Relay are exciting formats of triathlon and are sure to attract fresh interest in the sport.”
The Sprint World Championships – half the Olympic distance at 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run – will feature a US$100,000 prize purse and will take place on August 20 in Lausanne. The Team Triathlon World Championships, which will also be held in Lausanne, will have $50,000 in prize money available on August 21. The event will feature two men and two women, each completing a super sprint triathlon of 275m swim, 6km bike and a 1.5km run.
