Leeds set to host world’s best triathletes for Mixed Team Relay

The World Triathlon Championships Series will return to Roundhay Park, Leeds on 11 – 12 June for the sixth year as GB’s Olympic medallists return to major international individual and mixed team relay competition in Britain for the first-time post Tokyo.

The event, which is supported by British Triathlon, UK Sport, Leeds City Council and World Triathlon, will form part of British Triathlon’s new three-year Major Events Strategy which is the sport’s commitment to enhancing opportunities for swim bike and run opportunities across the country.   

Coming to Leeds for the first time is the mixed team relay format which made its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee made history by becoming the first Olympic champions in the event.

In an event that captured the public’s hearts and minds, the relay is a unique opportunity for men and women to race together across the same distances and allows home crowds to relive the Tokyo 2020 excitement.

A race truly like no other, each leg promises excitement and drama as most relays end with a sprint finish so one that is definitely not to be missed on race day.

Alongside the elite athletes, there will also be mass participation swim, bike, run events for participants of all levels and experiences to get into and fall in love with the sport.

British Triathlon recently launched its three-year strategy which runs through to Paris 2024 and supports British Triathlon’s performance related goals and Triathlon England’s recently launched Big Active Strategy which includes a major shift towards working in 17 places across England, developing capacity and embedding swim, bike, run in local communities to give a measurable and lasting social impact.  

Andy Salmon, British Triathlon Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Leeds for the sixth time. The people in and around the city have always made us feel so welcome and have embraced the sport taking place on their doorstep.

“Leeds has been a staple of our competition calendar since 2016 but we’re excited to be changing the format with the introduction of the mixed team relay alongside the individual sprint races. Like a lot of the country, I was captivated by the excitement the race offered during the Olympic Games and I’m pleased that home crowds can experience this in person.

“I want to thank all of our partners including UK Sport, Leeds City Council and World Triathlon for their continued support for this iconic event. Their commitment means we are not only able to provide racing opportunities for our elite triathletes and people who want to experience a swim, bike and run event for the first time, but the event can also provide a huge stimulus to getting more people physically active through swim, bike and run.”

Esther Britten, UK Sport Head of Major Events said: “We’re excited to work with event hosting partners to build on the excitement of the individual elite races with the inclusion of the mixed team relay. After the success of GB athletes at Tokyo, it will be brilliant to see athletes in action on home soil.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the World Triathlon Championship Series again at the home city for triathlon in the UK next year. The change of format to two days of elite racing will be exciting for everyone to enjoy, especially the mixed team relay which was one of the most talked-about events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the magnificent gold medal won by Jess, Jonny, Georgia and Alex who we know so well here in Leeds. Together with the mass-participation events across the weekend, there will be something for everyone to enjoy either watching or taking part and we cannot wait for June 11-12 to come around.”