The countdown officially begins to the ITU World Triathlon Leeds on Saturday 21 April as Morley Leisure Centre opens its doors to over 50 new triathletes as part of a series of warm-up GO TRI events taking place across the city.
The event starting at 3pm also marks 50 days to go until the elite races at the ITU World Triathlon Leeds and will see first timers take part in a 200m pool swim, 5km bike on spin bikes and 2km run.
GO TRI is British Triathlon’s low cost and short distance entry point to the sport and over 1,000 locals have been taking part in GO TRI activity within the city since the first ITU World Triathlon Series event was held in Leeds back in 2016.
In 2018, the GO TRI event as part of the ITU World Triathlon Leeds on Saturday 9 June is the biggest ever GO TRI event in Great Britain with more than 300 participants already signed up. The demand for entries from locals shows the impact the ITU World Triathlon Series and the performances of Britain’s leading triathletes has had in inspiring triathlon participation within the city.
Gold Coast silver medallist, Jess Learmonth who used to have swimming lessons at Morley Leisure Centre was delighted to hear 50 locals were taking their first steps into the sport commenting:
“Leeds is city with triathlon at its heart and having so many people taking part in their first triathlon in Morley is brilliant. It’s a great reminder that the ITU World Triathlon Leeds event is only 50 days away and I can’t wait to get racing again.
“These GO TRI events are a great stepping stone into triathlon and will really help build confidence ahead of the GO TRI Leeds event in June. If you haven’t entered, get yourself signed up and join me and the team in Leeds on 9 and 10 June.”
Entries are still available in the Saturday GO TRI event at Roundhay Park with entrants taking part over a 200m open water swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run.
If you think you want to have a bigger challenge sprint and standard places are still available. All entries can be purchased at leeds.triathlon.org/enter_now
British Triathlon, Chief Executive Officer, Andy Salmon added: “British Triathlon has delivered numerous GO TRI activities and events within the city over the past few years and, working with our partners, we are aiming to create a lasting legacy for the sport within the city. GO TRI is all about inclusivity and having fun and on Saturday 9 June, I can’t wait to cheer on everyone taking part in our sport for the first time.
The ITU World Triathlon Leeds takes place on 9 and 10 June and is organised by British Triathlon, in partnership with Leeds City Council, UK Sport and the ITU.
Over 70,000 fans are expected to arrive in the city to cheer on their local heroes Jess Learmonth and the Brownlee brothers as they race through the city and arrive to a raucous reception on the blue carpet finish in Millennium Square on Sunday 10 June 2018. Grandstand tickets are still available at: leeds.triathlon.org/tickets
