The ITU Long Distance World Championships returns to France after a six-year absence on Saturday 1 June as Belfort welcomes some of the world's best athletes battling it out for glory. The men's and women's races at the 18th Long Distance World Championships are full of former medallists including Caroline Steffen (SUI), Jodie Swallow (GBR), Dirk Bockel (LUX), Martin Jensen (DEN) and Sylvain Sudrie (FRA).
France has a close affiliation with the event, having hosted the very first race in 1995, and the 2013 race in Belfort marks the sixth time the race has been held in the country. The last time it was held in France - in Lorient in 2007 - the Elite Men's race was dominated by French athletes and it is the only time in the event's history where one nation has occupied all three places on the podium.
There have been 17 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, and Denmark and Great Britain leading the overall medal tally with six titles each. Denmark have five men's and one women's, while Great Britain have five women's and one men's. The 2013 world titles will this year be decided over a 9.5km run, 87km bike, 20km run due to unforseen cold weather and water temperatures.
SCHEDULE
Elite Men - Saturday June 1- 07:15
Elite Women - Saturday June 1 - 7:18
A live stream will be available on the event website which can be found here.