While we are all hoping for a better 2021 when it comes to the triathlon calendar, World Triathlon has already had to reshuffle the World Triathlon Championship Series agenda. Two races have been postponed so far: Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Chengdu (China). For the latter a new date has yet to be announced, but Abu Dhabi has been rescheduled for Nov. 5-6, this year.
Based on this news, the Championship Series will now kick off on May 15 in Yokohama, Japan. The rest of the season takes athletes to Leeds on Jun. 5-6, Montreal on Jun. 25-26, Hamburg on Jul. 10-11, Bermuda Oct. 15-17, and Edmonton (WTC final) on Aug. 17-22.
With Abu Dhabi now taking place towards the end of the season, it serves as the perfect test event for the 2022 Abu Dhabi World Triathlon Championship Finals, which will finish up the season next year.
Athletes won’t just fly to the United Arab Emirates for a WTC Series race, but they’ll also take part in a Mixed Relay event that is planned to take place that same weekend.
For now most short-distance triathletes have their eyes set on May, with the Olympic and Paralympic qualification ranking opening again on May 1.
Osaka to host first World Triathlon Cup of the season
The first World Cup race of the season was planned to be held in Miyazaki, Japan on Mar. 20, 2021. But the Japanese Triathlon Union, along with the local organizing committee, has decided that it would be better to cancel the event due to many travel restrictions in place in the region. The World Triathlon Cup season will still have its first race in Japan, but instead it will take place with an inaugural race in Osaka on May 8-9.
