Olympic champion Alex Yee is relishing racing on home roads when the World Championship Triathlon Series returns to the UK for the first time in three years in London this summer.
Yee was speaking at the launch event on Thursday (January 29) and described the London race as a powerful motivator as he prepares to return to elite triathlon competition following a period focused on marathon running.
We’ll feature an in-depth interview with him next week here on TRI247 which looks back on his incredible marathon exploits – 14th on his debut in London and then the second-fastest time ever by a Briton when seventh in Valencia – and also ahead to his big targets for 2026 and beyond.
And the prospect of once again racing in front of home fans is set to be a huge highlight, with some of his greatest triathlon achievements outside of that Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 coming in the UK.
He effectively booked his first appearance at the delayed Tokyo Olympics with a breakthrough victory at WTCS Leeds in 2021 and the following year he won both the individual and Mixed Team Relay gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Inspiring the next generation
The WTCS race will take place at the London T100 weekend on 25-26 July, marking the return of Olympic triathlon racing to the capital for the first time since 2015.
It has been a collaboration by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (via their partnership with the sport’s international governing body World Triathlon ), British Triathlon and UK Sport.
“It’s very motivating to have a World Triathlon Championship Series race back in the UK, especially in my hometown of London to aim for this year,” said Yee.
”I remember leaning over the barriers and being inspired by the London 2012 Olympics – being able to witness that level of competition on my doorstep, especially the likes of the Brownlee brothers and Mo Farah, made me feel like a product of that and I hope that this new WTCS race in London will help inspire the next generation in a similar way.”
Bidding to take triathlon mainstream
Also speaking at the launch, PTO CEO Sam Renouf outlined plans for London as well as the organisation’s broader mission to take triathlon mainstream. Last month they announced a new Triathlon World Tour from 2027, that will include the successful T100 series alongside a rebranded WTCS which will become the T50 World Championship Series.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for triathlon,” said Renouf. “There is new investment, new ambition and a shared belief in the sport’s global potential. Bringing the WTCS back to London gives British athletes like Alex the platform to build on the outstanding Olympic performances we saw in Paris.”
Renouf also emphasised the unique opportunity the London event presents: “We’ve worked closely with the London Marathon team on the first two editions of the London T100 to create an environment where amateurs and first-timers feel as welcome as the world’s best professionals. That’s why we genuinely believe the London T100 can become one of the biggest triathlon festivals anywhere in the world.”
Whilst the 2026 edition won’t see the professionals race at the PTO’s signature 100km distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run), it will continue to be a big draw for the amateurs, alongside a range of other distances especially designed to welcome swim, bike and run first timers, including: Olympic (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run), Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run), Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run) and Relay options.
Capital gains
The push to get more first time triathletes will also include more than 50 start line places reserved for organisations like Women In Tri and Cycle Sisters; women’s only modesty changing areas at the transition from swim to bike; and larger swim caps to accommodate thicker, curlier hair, dreadlocks, weaves and braids. These measures sit within a broader commitment to gender-inclusive policies across all race distances, aimed at removing barriers and increasing participation for women at every stage of their triathlon journey.
To maximise the impact of the event, British Triathlon is introducing new sustainability and legacy programmes which will be co-designed with communities in Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets. What works across London will be scaled nationally through their Home Nation partners, ensuring sustainable, long term impact across the UK.
British Triathlon Chief Executive Ruth Daniels said securing National Lottery funding from UK Sport to bring the WTCS back to London was a significant moment for the sport.
“As the leading nation for triathlon, we’re delighted to bring a World Series event to our capital city, creating an important opportunity for our elite athletes to race and gain Olympic qualifying points. It’s fantastic to be able to welcome the best triathletes from around the world to London, and we hope this event inspires the next generation as well as the many supporters and spectators who may be motivated to take on a triathlon after experiencing everything our sport has to offer.
“Bringing a major triathlon back to London will help us boost the visibility of our sport as we continue our ambition to make triathlon mainstream. We’re confident that delivering an event in London over the next three years will act as a springboard for growth and build a long-term legacy through social impact and community engagement – reaching and involving more diverse communities in triathlon. It also provides the hundreds of triathlon clubs and existing triathletes across England, Scotland and Wales the chance to get behind their sporting heroes and heroines, and creates opportunities for volunteers and fan engagement both live and virtually.
“This is a new way of delivering events for us. It’s the first time we’ve collaborated with such a broad range of partners, demonstrating our commitment to doing things differently to support the development of triathlon, informed by the learnings from the 2025 Deloitte report.”
Esther Britten, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, commented:“We’re absolutely delighted to have world-class triathlon back in London. It promises to be a special weekend, with the world’s best triathletes racing through the streets of the capital alongside amateur and first-time competitors. Nothing beats competing at home and this event gives our athletes the chance to perform on a world-class stage, while also providing an iconic platform to inspire a new wave of triathletes into the sport.”
“National Lottery investment has helped make the return of the World Triathlon Championship Series to London possible, supporting both elite success and the future growth of the sport, and we’re really looking forward to seeing Olympic triathlon racing in the capital this summer.”
