Leeds becomes leading candidate to host ITU World Triathlon Series race

As well as the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Leeds is being considered to host to another major international sporting event.

Next year the city could potentially be hosting a round of the ITU World Triathlon Series, which would give Leeds’-own heroes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee the chance to compete in front of hometown crowds.

If Leeds is successful, big crowds and significant media coverage will be attracted to the city, as the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon Series is broadcast live around the world.

National governing body British Triathlon selected the Leeds bid which has been led by Leeds City Council with support from Sport Leeds, Welcome to Yorkshire and other key stakeholders.

Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee and his brother Jonathan Brownlee, who won bronze at London 2012, have advised on a potential race route in the city, which could see the Leeds-based brothers compete in front of a home crowd in one of the final races before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Alistair Brownlee said: “The ITU World Triathlon Series is about delivering world-class racing in iconic locations and Leeds will guarantee to do just that. I am sure that spectators will line the route and the city centre will be full of fans cheering on the athletes as we cross the finish line.

“The Tour de France Grand Départ 2014 demonstrated how much the people of Leeds and Yorkshire love sport, and the opportunity for not just myself but also for athletes from around the world to race in front of crowds like that will create an unforgettable event. It will create a platform to inspire the local community to get involved in the sport and continue the proud triathlon tradition within Yorkshire.”

The event in Leeds would see Olympic-distance elite men’s and women’s triathlon races start with a 1500m swim in Roundhay Park, before taking on a 40km bike route into the city centre where they would complete a number of circuits, and then finish with a 10km run through Leeds in front of possible crowds of up to 40,000 spectators.

The council will also try to involve local schools, communities and stakeholders in developing a programme of cultural events and activities in the build up to and around the event weekend.

On April 22nd, Leeds City Council’s executive board will have to attend the ITU meeting to endorse the bid and the preparations which would be required in the event of the bid being successful.

The calendar of ITU World Triathlon Series events for 2016 is expected to be announced by the ITU in May.

Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Following on from the success of our local athletes at London 2012 and the amazing Tour de France Grand Départ, Leeds and Yorkshire is now well and truly on the international sporting map and hosting a round of the ITU World Triathlon Series would be another fantastic world-class event to showcase our city and county live around the globe.

“I’m sure thousands of people would come out to watch the world’s best triathletes in action, and of course the possibility of seeing Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee race in their home city for free in front of a passionate Leeds and Yorkshire crowd would be something very special to see and experience in terms of an incredible atmosphere similar to the Tour de France. And with the mass-participation element and cultural events and activities like the Grand Départ it would be something everyone could get involved with. We are just waiting to hear with fingers crossed now if we have been successful.”

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