Routes announced for World Triathlon Leeds

The full route maps for both elites and age-groupers have been released for the WTS stop in Leeds this June.

Published: January 29, 2016 at 8:23 am

The World Triathlon Series is coming to Leeds over the 11th-12th June, and the full route maps for both elites and age-groupers have been released today.

The much-anticipated event, which has replaced London as the UK stop on the ITU World Triathlon Series tour, will see the world’s finest triathletes and over 5,000 amateurs take to the streets of Leeds on largely the same course on Sunday 12 June.


The elite route map

Barring injury, the elite races will feature proud Yorkshiremen Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, as well as Leeds-based duo Non Stanford and Vicky Holland, taking on their rivals from across the globe in the British athletes’ final event on home soil before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

the 1500-metre swim starts in Roundhay Park’s Waterloo Lake, and the bike course is a 42.5km ride through Roundhay, Moortown, Meanwood, Headingley and Woodhouse. The race will culminate with a 7-lap, 10km run around the city centre, with the finish chute in Millennium Square.

The unique point-to-point route has been designed to provide the best possible spectator experience, especially in the city centre where crowds watching the bike and run elements will see the field pass them multiple times.

Alistair Brownlee commented:

“The route shows what an exciting race Leeds will be for spectators. The multi-lap bike course goes into the heart of the city centre making it really technical and spectator friendly with plenty of opportunities to watch the racing. The finish in Millennium Square, it’s going to be brilliant!”



The age-group route map

With the elite races taking place in the afternoon, they will be preceded by the mass-participation events in the morning, offering approximately 5,000 amateur triathletes the chance to take on the same course as the professionals - the only slight differences being variations to the bike and run elements to cater for the different distances being completed, and the second transition point being on the former site of the Leeds International Pool. All competitors will enjoy the chance to cross the same finish line on Millennium Square.

The previous day, Saturday 11 June, will see a range of activities taking place in Roundhay Park offering families and people of all ages a sample of triathlon before the main event. Full details of the Saturday programme will be revealed in the weeks to come.

You can head to http://leeds.triathlon.org to view an animation of the elite course, while an interactive route map is also available to view at www.leeds.gov.uk/worldtrileeds.

Although entries filling up fast, there are places still available for all age-group races apart from the individual Olympic distance, you can go to leedstriathlon.org to book your place. Anyone keen to volunteer at the event can express their interest via http://leeds.triathlon.org//event_info/volunteer.


Do you live locally to Leeds? What do you think of the course? Let us know in the comments!