ITU World Triathlon Leeds confirmed as host of 2018 British Championships

Leeds to host 2018 British Age-Group Standard Distance Triathlon Champs

Qualification also available for the 2019 ETU Standard Distance Championships

For many Age-Groupers, ITU World Triathlon Leeds was a significant ‘false start‘ on its debut in 2016. The announcement that the race would host the British Championship in 2017 gave rise to many strange looks and strong opinions – but having been at both events, bad and good, as I’ve stated here previously – the 2017 event really did deliver earlier this year. The contrast between 2016 and 2017 was truly night and day.

With that slate now clean, the announcement that ITU World Triathlon Leeds will host the 2018 British Age-Group Standard Distance Triathlon Championships can be received far more positively. It was a fabulous weekend, and with a strong team now managing the event, expect the same again (with a few improvement tweaks), for 2018.

Here is the full announcement.

Today, (Monday 18 September) British Triathlon has confirmed the ITU World Triathlon Leeds will host the 2018 British Age-Group Standard Distance Triathlon Championships.

The announcement supports the events standing as the most prestigious triathlon in the country, hosting the UK leg of the ITU World Triathlon Series for the world’s elite and now offering Britain’s finest age-group triathletes the chance to win a coveted British title in the heart of Leeds city-centre.

Aspirant Great Britain Age-Group Team triathletes will also have the chance to qualify for the 2019 ETU Standard Distance Triathlon European Championships. The Great Britain Age-Group Team is one of the most successful nations in the world and the chance to qualify in Leeds by crossing the world-famous blue carpet in Millennium Square will be an iconic moment.

As per the 2017 edition of the ITU World Triathlon Leeds, British Triathlon is proud to once again be organising the event and will continue working with a team of experts to deliver another outstanding race for participants. In 2017, 95% of competitors said they would recommend the event to a friend and the British Triathlon organising team is already working on making the overall event experience even better establishing the event as a not to be missed race on the triathlon calendar.

The official 2018 course is still to be confirmed, however little change is expected from the 2017 standard distance route that begins with a 1,500 swim in Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park before triathletes complete a 36km bike route that takes participants towards Headingly before returning to Roundhay Park where they will rack their bikes in a single transition hub. The final leg will see participants embark on a 10km run towards the city centre where they will experience the huge crowds on the Headrow before finishing in front of a packed grandstand on the blue carpet.

Entries for the 2018 event will open on Wednesday 20 September with an exclusive charity entry window. The charity window will close on 24 September at midnight before past participants and British Triathlon Home Nation members have their own exclusive entry window prior to entries going on general sale on 9 October 2018.

Please visit http://leeds.triathlon.org/2018 for more information and to register your interest and be the first to be notified of entries opening.

Edward Castro, British Champion in the 25-29 category in 2017 and regular medallist in the Great Britain Age-Group Team commented: ““Leeds was a great race to be part of this year. Winning the British Championships in a location which is world renowned for its triathlon pedigree with the Brownlee brothers was a fantastic experience. The venue and course were superb and the age-group athletes were really well looked after; with the attention to detail it felt the same as World Championship events I have attended. I know I will be back there next year aiming to retain my title.”

Jack Buckner, Chief Executive of British Triathlon added: “Earlier this year, British Triathlon delivered a much-improved triathlon experience for athletes, and in 2018 we are aiming to build on this with new innovations that will help make the overall event a world-leading triathlon experience. Leeds will be one of four British Championships events and will be the perfect location for Great Britain’s top standard distance age-group triathletes to celebrate their Championship win in a city that has triathlon at its heart.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake, said: “We are thrilled and very excited at the news that ITU World Triathlon Leeds has been chosen to host the prestigious 2018 British Age-Group Standard Distance Triathlon Championships.

“The previous two ITU World Triathlon events held in Leeds have been something truly special, and we are very proud that as a city we have created an atmosphere for the athletes that is up there with the very best in the sport.”

The ITU World Triathlon Leeds is supported by National Lottery funding and is organised by British Triathlon, in partnership with Leeds City Council, UK Sport and the ITU.