Search
shop

2021 World Duathlon Championships: Preview, start time, how to watch live

Five years after its last visit to the Asturias region of Spain, the World Duathlon Championships will return to Aviles this coming weekend
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

After a two-year break, the World Duathlon Championships returns to the calendar this weekend in Aviles, Spain.

Formerly known as the ITU Duathlon World Championships, the rebranding of ITU now means that, officially at least, the new title is the World Triathlon Duathlon Championships… which sounds like an as yet to be revealed new sport! We are not quite sure that the name works… but let’s focus on the event.

Advertisement

Back to Spain

Aviles itself is a relatively familiar venue, with the championships last held there in 2016. That was an event I attended myself, which saw Alex Yee win the Junior championship with ease and Kate Waugh earn Junior silver. There was Elite gold for Great Britain too, courtesy of Emma Pallant, who defended her title from 12 months earlier in Adelaide. Fair to say that all three athletes, five years on, have had a rather successful 2021 season.

The Spanish connection continues, as the last World Championship two years ago was hosted in Pontevedra, as part of the wider Multisport Worlds. Benjamin Choquert (FRA) and Sandra Levenez (FRA) were the winners there, but there was a great effort from Liam Lloyd who attacked hard on the bike, secured a solo breakaway and would eventually just miss the podium, crossing the line in fourth place. He certainly made that an exciting final run to watch.

Neither of the 2019 champions are on the start list for Saturday’s race.

Race start times and how to watch live

The championships take place over two days, with the schedule as follows. All times shown below are local times, with Spain one hour ahead of the UK. Thus, the Elite Women will race at 1215 UK on Saturday etc.

Saturday November 6

0900 – AG Sprint Duathlon
1315 – Elite and U23 Women
1610 – Elite and U23 Men

Sunday November 7

0900 – AG Standard Duathlon
1315 – Para Duathlon
1525 – Junior Women
1710 – Junior Men

Elite and U23 races will be over the 10km run / 40km bike / 5km run format, with the Junior Elite races 5km / 20km / 2.5km.

The Elite and U23 Men and Women’s race on Friday will be broadcast live, available to view on the World Triathlon TriathlonLIVE subscription service.

Prize Money

There is a $75,000 prize purse on offer for Elite athletes, which will be paid 15-deep (both male and female), as follows:

1st – $ 9,375
2nd – $ 7,500
3rd – $ 5,625
4th – $ 3,750
5th – $ 2,625
6th – $ 2,250
7th – $ 1,875
8th – $ 1,125
9th – $ 845
10th – $ 655
11th – $ 565
12th – $ 470
13th – $ 375
14th – $ 280
15th – $ 185

Who’s racing?

Emilio Martin (ESP) – 2nd, Angelo Vandecasteele (BE) – 3rd, Liam Lloyd (GBR) – 4th and Yohan Le Berre (FRA) – 5th, are all racing, meaning that four of the top five from the 2019 Pontevedra championship will go head-to-head in Aviles.

Liam Lloyd / Welsh Triathlon Super Series
Liam Lloyd

Home favourite Martin is a regular on the World Championship podium, winner in both 2012 and 2015, and also finishing second at this venue five years ago to Richard Murray.

Aviles ITU Duathlon World Championship 2016
Emilio Martin was second in 2016

Joining Liam Lloyd in the British men’s team will be Philip Wylie, Chris Perham and Ben Price. Wylie has been a stalwart of the Elite British duathlon squad, with a World Championship best of fourth place back in 2014, also in Spain.

Viborg ETU Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon European Championships / Alice Hector / Ben Price
Photo: Ceci Frascaroli

Ben Price has been a regular on the British Elite Powerman Duathlon team over the longer format at European Championship level, and this will be his first time in the Elite squad at Standard distance. Recently turned 40, he believes he is still improving.

The U23 events in Aviles run concurrently with the Elite seniors, where the British team will comprise Sam Hart and Reece Ashfield, with Henry James, Liam Openshaw, Skip Snelson and Ben Cumberland the Junior squad.

Top-ranked athlete for the Elite women is Sandrina Illes (AUT). Silver medallist two years ago, that followed her 2018 gold medal in Denmark. She will however need to improve on her 11th-place finish earlier this year in the European Championships to contend.

ITU Duathlon World Championships 2018
2018 World Champion

Marion Legrand (FRA) and Ann Schoot Uiterkamp (NED) took silver and bronze respectively at the European Championships in July and will both race again in Spain – though this time, the distance will be double that raced in Targu Mures.

The British Elite entry comprises Claudia Kelsall, Olivia Mitchell, Nicole Allan and Rachel Brown.

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
Sam Laidlow run Roundhay Park IRONMAN Leeds 2025
‘I’m ready for it’ – Sam Laidlow on why triathlon is hitting new heights in 2025 ahead of IRONMAN World Champs
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023 run
Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen issues last call for scholarship fund for young athletes
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...