New routes announced for WTS Leeds age-grouper and elite races

The routes for the 2017 elite and age-group races at the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds 10-11 June have been announced.

The sprint- and standard-distance courses for the age-group races take in a swim (750m/1,500m) in Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park before a new bike route (19km/36km) will take participants towards Headingley before returning to Roundhay Park where they’ll rack their bikes. The final leg will see participants embark on a (7.5km/10km) run towards the city centre, before finishing in front of grandstand on the blue carpet.

Last year’s split Roundhay Park/city centre transition caused major problems for age-groupers, with the most serious being long delays in the post-race drop of bags containing warm clothing. Therefore race organisers have decided there’ll be one single transition area in Roundhay Park this year.

Jack Buckner, BTF CEO said: “The 2017 Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds is going to be the best organised, and most enjoyable triathlon event in the UK this year. We have given careful and detailed consideration to every single element of the event and will deliver a world-class triathlon experience for every triathlete.”

You can view the routes for the standard and sprint distances below

The elite events, which will see the world’s best short-course triathletes race, will start with a 1,500m swim in Roundhay Park’s Waterloo Lake. They’ll then make the transition to their bikes and follow a 40km bike through Roundhay and towards the city-centre via Moortown, Meanwood, Headingley and Burley before completing seven laps of a city-centre loop.

They will then transition on Millennium Square before covering 10km in four shorter laps of the city-centre loop, passing through Millennium Square on each lap.

Jonny Brownlee said: “The route shows what an exciting race the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon 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. With an iconic finish in Millennium Square, it’s going to be brilliant. It’s always great to have the triathlon community out in force and, if you love triathlon, then you need to join us in Leeds in June.”

More than 2,000 age-group athletes have already entered and there is still time to join them and compete yourself. Visit leeds.triathlon.org

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