The ITU plans to support a new winter triathlon format for next year made up of snowshoeing, speed skating and skiing, as it seeks to capitalise on the "exceptional growth" in popularity of summer triathlons.
The first event to take place will be the Québec ITU Winter Triathlon, to be held on 8-9 March of next year in association with Pentathlon des neiges, which will be celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Involving a 5km snowshoe, 12km speed skating and 8km ski course, the ITU says that it hopes the format can be developed sufficiently to eventually include it in the Winter Olympics.
“The winter triathlon event meets ITU’s need to develop a winter discipline," said Pentathlon des neiges CEO François Calletta. "We have innovated by creating a new sport that, by agreement with ITU, will reoccur annually."
Registration for the Québec ITU Winter Triathlon and various aspects of the Pentathlon race will begin in October.