Can you believe we're already at the start of a new World Triathlon Championship Series?!
Abu Dhabi was set to kick the season off this coming weekend, 8-9 March 2024, but unfortunately the event has had to be cancelled.
Keep on reading to find out what happened in the series in 2023, who would have been racing in Abu Dhabi and what the rest of the short-course season looks like...
What happened in the 2023 WTCS?
The first round in Abu Dhabi on 3 March saw double GB gold, as Beth Potter notched up her first-ever WTCS win and Alex Yee put in a masterclass performance to take his fifth WTCS victory.
The second-round spoils in Yokohama went to Potter's teammate Sophie Coldwell – her first WTCS victory – and NZ's Hayden Wilde.
The third round in Cagliari, Sardinia, was yet another Brit double as Georgia Taylor Brown rediscovered that world-beating form to take her first win of the season and Yee once again got the better of the field to make it two wins from two race starts.
Montreal hosted the fourth round where Potter reigned supreme yet again. In a slightly depleted men's field, Aussie Matt Hauser took his first-ever WTCS win.
Round five took place in a familiar venue but with an entirely new format for the German city of Hamburg – the eliminator, which has so far only been contested in Montreal. The race also acted as the first-ever World Super Sprint Champs.
Taking the top honours were Hayden Wilde and Cassandre Beaugrand, for their second and first wins of the season, respectively.
The penultimate race took place in Sunderland, UK, for what could be the last WTCS outing for some time on UK shores.
But back on the race course it was a French sweep as Pierre Le Corre beat teammate Leo Bergere in a sprint to take his first WTCS win; Cassandre Beaugrand made it two in a row; and Team France outshone the field to win the Mixed Team Relay.
Pontevedra, Spain, hosted the Grand Final, with Alex Yee leading the rankings and poised to become the first British world champion since Jonny Brownlee back in 2012. However, a terrible swim for the Brit saw him eventually finish in 29th place and fifth in the overall standings.
Taking the spoils was Dorian Coninx, a surprise victory for the Frenchmen who had been in fifth place heading into the Final.
For the women, Beth Potter started as No.1 and finished No.1, leading from almost start to finish to take her first world title.
When and where is WTCS Abu Dhabi taking place?
The first round of the 2024 WTCS in Abu Dhabi is taking place on Friday 8 March at Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit.
Which events are taking place in Abu Dhabi?
As well as age-group races, Abu Dhabi will be hosting the Abu Dhabi Para World Cup Race, the Elite men's and women's sprint-distance WTCS and the Elite mixed relay (on Saturday 9 March).
Which athletes are racing in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi will be fielding many of the top Olympic-distance names, including both reigning world champions, Potter and Coninx.
Joining Potter will be Paris contender Beaugrand. If either Potter or Beaugrand medal in Abu Dhabi, they will join the prestigious five-consecutive-medals-at-WTCS-streak club (Beth took gold in Montreal, silver in Hamburg, gold in Paris and gold in Pontevedra; Cassandra was gold in Hamburg, gold in Sunderland, silver in Paris and bronze in Pontevedra).
Abu Dhabi sees the return of new golden couple Vincent Luis and Georgia Taylor-Brown, both of whom were mostly absent from the 2023 season.
Taylor-Brown hasn’t raced since Montreal last year, and will be keen to secure some big points to help her British-Olympic-team-selection chances. Kate Waugh and Sophie Coldwell will also be battling it out for GB's remaining two spots (Potter has secured the first).
Luis will be fighting for the last remaining men's spot on the all-important French Olympic team (Coninx and Pierre Le Corre have secured the first two).
Other notables include reigning 70.3 champion Taylor Knibb, Emma Lombardi, Taylor Spivey and Rio Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen on the women's side.
While for the men, we have Hayden Wilde, Alex Yee, 2202 world champion Léo Bergere, Vasco Vilaça, Matt Hauser and winner-of-all-titles Kristian Blummenfelt.
Sadly, four-time world champion Flora Duffy is still on the sidelines with injury.
Full start lists can be found here.
The 2024 WTCS Abu Dhabi course
The elite races are sprint distance, and start with a one-lap, 750m (usually non-wetsuit) swim in Yas Marina Bay.
After a 266m run to T1, athletes hit the five-lap, 20km bike course around the Yas Marina F1 circuit. It's a challenging, fast and technical circuit
From T2 they start the two-lap, 5.3km run, also over the F1 circuit, on a mostly flat and fast circuit, before a 100m deviation to the finish line.
The 2024 Para Cup Abu Dhabi course
The Paratriathlon Championship races start with a one-lap, 750m swim.
After a 131m run to T1, there's a 420m stretch before they hit a six-lap, 19.75km bike leg, then a 196m stretch into T2.
A 191km run out precedes a two-lap, 4.246km run and then a final 566m run to the line.
The 2024 Mixed Relay Abu Dhabi course
How can I watch the 2024 WTCS Abu Dhabi?
You can watch all races live on TriathlonLive.tv, while UK audiences can also stream live coverage via BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, the BBC Sport app and the BBC Red Button.
When do the 2024 WTCS Abu Dhabi events start*?
*All times are local, which is 4hrs ahead of the UK.
Friday 8 March
11am – Para World Cup
4pm – Elite women's sprint-distance race
6pm – Elite men's sprint-distance race
Saturday 9 March
1:15pm – Elite mixed relay
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series
The 2024 series will have visited six different locations during the season, starting in Abu Dhabi in March and culminating at the Grand Final in Malaga, Spain, in October.
WTCS 2024 overview
- 8-9 March: WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE (sprint and mixed relay)
- 11 May: WTCS Yokohama Japan (standard)
- 25-26 May: WTCS Cagliari, Italy (standard)
- 13-14 July: WTCS Hamburg, Germany (sprint and mixed relay)
- 14-15 September: WTCS Montreal, Canada (sprint and mixed relay)
- 17-20 October: World Triathlon Grand Final Malaga, Spain (standard)
Paris 2024 Olympics
- 30, 31 July & 5 August: Paris, France (standard & mixed relay)
Paratriathlon
- 8 March: Para Cup Abu Dhabi, UAE
- 16-17 March: WTPS Devonport, Australia
- 13 May: WTPS Yokohama, Japan
- 18-19 May: Para Cup Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- 15-16 June: Para Cup Besançon, France
- 22-23 June: WTPS Swansea, Wales
- 29-30 June: WTPS Montreal, Canada
- 20-21 July: Para Cup Long Beach, USA
- 1-2 September: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, France
- 17-20 October: World Triathlon Para Championships Malaga, Spain
Top image credit: Tommy Zaferes/World Triathlon
