The 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series calendar has been announced. The iconic capital cities of Sydney, Seoul and Budapest have been added to the calendar, joining the existing world class events previously held in Madrid, London, Kitzbühel and Hamburg. The season is set to kick of on April 11th with the opening race on the steps of the renowned Sydney Opera House, mirroring the first Olympic Games where triathlon became an official sport of the games in 2000.
The series which was announced last year represents an innovative change in how the ITU previously crowned its world champions. The new series is setup to make stops in some spectacular locations around the world which host first-class World Championship events. The series then wraps up with the Grand Final event where the world’s best triathletes are competing head-to-head. An integral part of the new series is live television coverage for spectators around, exponential growth in athlete prize money, and overall sport exposure. In 2009 the series offered a $150,000 prize purse for a World Championship Series race with the Grand Final winnings set at $250,000.
2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series Calendar
• April 11 - Sydney, Australia
• May 08-09 - Seoul, South Korea
• June 05-06 - Madrid, Spain
• July 17-18 - Hamburg, Germany
• July 24-25 - London, United Kingdom
• August 14-15 - Kitzbuhel, Austria
• September 11-12 - Budapest, Hungary (Grand Final)
An eighth event is also under review and if added to the series is likely to take place in May.
New this year will be Budapest, Hungary hosting the 2010 Grand Final of the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championships Series where the world champions will be crowned. The event will be held on the weekend of September 11th with the course encompassing the Danube and much of the city center. The historic site will provide an exceptional backdrop to cap another exciting season. The Under 23 and Junior World Championships will also take place in Budapest and the city will provide the stage for thousands of international triathletes to compete in the Age Group and Paratriathlon ITU Triathlon World Championships.
"The series will be staged in three Olympic cities as well as some of the most important centres of the world. This is a major step forward for our sport." — Marisol Casado, President of ITU
See the website for additional information on the ITU World Championship Series: www.triathlon.org/worldchampionshipseries
Out of the series this year are the cities of Singapore (race was moved to Tongyeong), Washington, DC, Yokohama and the Gold Coast, all which hosted races in 2009.
The 2010 ITU Triathlon World Cup calendar will be announced in November.
