It's that time of year again when we look forward to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Test Events! And this one is set to be an absolute corker. Here we detail everything you need to know about the all-important Test Events and how you can watch every single second of the action.
Where are the Test Events being held?
In France's formidable capital, Paris.
The City of Lights will be hosting the 2024 Olympic Games from 26 July to 11 August 2024 (the men's race is on 30 July; the women's 31 July; the mixed relay on 5 August) and the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September 2024 (paratriathlon events take place on 1 and 2 September).
When are the Paris Test Events taking place?
From 17-20 August, so expect toasty-hot racing conditions for all competitors over the four days.
Who's racing the Paris Test Events?
The start lists are, unsurprisingly, a who's who of the current crop of short-course racing talent.
On the British men's side, Jonathan Brownlee and Alex Yee will be testing out the Olympic course. Brownlee has so far medalled in all three Olympic Games that he's raced; for Tokyo silver and gold medallist Yee, Paris would be his second Olympic outing.
What are the courses like for the Paris Test Events?
The Paris Olympic and Paralympic triathlon courses were announced at the end of April this year, and, like London 2012, take in some of the city's major tourist attractions.
Three course routes were revealed to cover the men's and women's individual events, the mixed team relay and the Paralympic paratriathlon races.
The Test Events are the ideal opportunity for athletes and coaching staff to see how best to navigate each course, where they might be able to make up time advantages, how the weather might play a role, etc.
All events will begin from a floating pontoon that’ll branch off the base of the Pont Alexandre III bridge, where there will also be a spectator stand with capacity for 1,000 people to watch the start, transitions and finish.
The swim takes place in the Seine, after which athletes will take in Le Grand Palais, Le Petit Palais, l’Assemblée Nationale, Le Musée d’Orsay, Avenue des Champs-Elysées (with the Arc de Triomphe in their sights), Avenue Montaigne, Quai d’Orsay and Quai Anatole France, as well as Boulevard Saint-Germain on the bike and run legs.
Throughout the route there’ll be space for fans to gather and cheer on the athletes, for free, again as in London 2012.
When do the Paris Test events start*?
*All times are local, which is 1hr ahead of UK time.
Thursday 17 August
8am – Elite women's Olympic-distance race (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
Friday 18 August
8am – Elite men's Olympic-distance race (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
Saturday 19 August
World Triathlon Para Cup Paris (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
8am – Men's PTS5
8:05am – Men's PTVI1
8:07:41am – Men's PTVI2/3
8:09am – Women's PTVI1
8:12:11am – Women's PTVI2/3
8:20am – Women's PTS5
8:21am – Women's PTS2/3/4
8:30am – Men's PTS4
8:31am – Men's PTS2/3
9:20am – Men's PTWC1
9:23am – Men's PTWC2
9:25am – Women's PTWC1
9:28:38am – Women's PTWC2
Sunday 20 August
8am – Mixed team relay race (300m swim, 5.8km bike, 1.8km run x 4)
How can I watch the Paris Test Events?
You can watch all races live on TriathlonLive.tv.
World Triathlon 2023 Championship Series
The 2023 series will visit seven different locations during the season, starting in Abu Dhabi in March and culminating at the Final in Pontevedra, Spain, in September.
WTCS 2023 overview
- 3 March: WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE (sprint)
- 13 May: WTCS Yokohama, Japan (standard)
- 27-28 May: WTCS Cagliari, Italy (standard)
- 24-25 June: WTCS Montreal, Canada (sprint, mixed relay)
- 13-16 July: WTCS Hamburg, Germany (super sprint & mixed relay world champs)
- 29-30 July: WTCS Sunderland, UK (sprint, mixed relay)
- 22-24 September: WTCS Grand Final Pontevedra, Spain (standard)
Paris 2024 Test Event
- 17-20 August: Paris, France (standard, mixed relay, paratriathlon)
Paratriathlon
- 3 March: Abu Dhabi, UAE (para cup)
- 18-19 March: Devonport, Australia (para series)
- 13 May: Yokohama, Japan (para series)
- 2-4 June: Madrid, Spain (European para championship)
- 10-11 June: A Coruna, Spain (para cup)
- 17-18 June: Besancon, France (para cup)
- 8-9 July: Montreal, Canada (para series)
- 14-15 July: Long Beach, USA (para cup)
- 15 July: Swansea, UK (para series)
- 19 August: Paris, France (para cup)
- 23-24 September: Pontevedra, Spain (world para championship)
- 7-8 October: Alhandra, Portugal (para cup)
Top image credit: Getty Images
