International Action

International racing comes 'home' this weekend, courtesy of the GE 2010 Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championship. This is the 21st staging of the World Duathlon Championships, and could well be the toughest event to date. While the repeated hills around the extinct volcano of Arthur's Seat will prove a testing challenge to every athlete, the beauty of Holyrood Park really is a site to behold. Your Editor is (was?!) writing this preview piece from right next to it on what was a glorious day with blue skies. Let's hope that remains all weekend!

The schedule sees the ParaDuathlon today (Friday), the Age Groups on Saturday, then the Elite (inc Juniors / Under-23) on Sunday. Defending champions Jarrod Shoemaker and Vendula Frintova are not here, but that wouldn't have changed anything... home favourite and event Ambassador Cat Morrison owns the shoulders upon which all expectations and focus are placed. Still, she won here in 2007 (European Championsips), lives just 10 miles away and hasn't lost a significant race all year. She isn't in 100% run shape due to injuries (she says!), but, doesn't seem too concerned - expect her to be in the front and pulling away by the mid point of the bike section on roads she will know better than anyone else here.

In total over 1000 athletes are registered to race across what should be a great weekend.

A twist of timing results in another World Duathlon Championship taking place on Sunday - Powerman Zofingen. Belgian Joerie Vansteelant is the defending champion and course record holder for that, though he is on the start list for Edinburgh. Erica Csomor (HUN) is practically unbeatable in Zofingen, and will be looking for her seventh straight title at the infamous Swiss race.

Other notable events around the globe include Challenge Walchsee-Kaierwinkl (Austria) where our picks are Michael Weiss and Yvonne van Vlerken and Tristar111 Monaco (featuring Jenson Button, Bruno Senna and several other past and present Formula 1 drivers). Chris McCormack has been collecting yet more air miles to race in that one...

Domestic Racing

No doubting the big race of Saturday. The Vitruvian, as always, has been sold out for months - its reputation and multiple 'race of the year' awards showing just what a highlight in the calendar the event has become.

Sam Gardner (2005 winner) plus Jonathan Hotchkiss (2006/7/8 winner) plus Alistair Johnson and Craig Twigg are amongst the favourites - though we confidently put our hard earned couple of quid on Mr Hotchkiss, who thinks of this as 'his' race, after being unable to race last season. Lou Collins and Lucy Gossage could well make it a TFN Tri Club one-two for the ladies. In that order we think...

Plenty of swim races on Saturday with the Great River Swim in Chiswick, the Swim Super Series at Princes Club and the Eton Big Open Water Swim at Dorney Lake.

FULL SATURDAY SCHEDULE

A very busy Sunday with the Tri for Life events at Dorney, Shiplake College events in Henley, North West Triathlon(s) and Cotswold Triathlon(s) among several events with multiple races over the weekend.

If you want tough, and you aren't going to be racing in Edinburgh this weekend, then the Helvellyn Triathlon is probably your destination!

Loads more races on - check them all out below

FULL SUNDAY SCHEDULE