Britain’s paratriathletes return to ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series action this weekend on two separate continents. The Series visits Yokohama, Japan and Aguilas, Spain as athletes continue to fight for ranking points ahead of the sports Paralympic debut in Rio in September.

Athletes with top seven ranking positions secure slots for their nation in Rio. With double points on offer at the ETU European Championships later this month, most British athletes will focus their attentions on performing well there. However, Derby’s Ryan Taylor is amongst those racing this weekend.

Taylor, 23, has the potential to contend for a PT2 category medal in Rio, and this weekend is racing in Agulias as part of his continued preparations.  He won his last race, which was the opening round of the Series in South Africa in March, beating the ITU World Champion, Michele Ferrarin (ITA) who he will line up against again this weekend.

Melissa Reid, 25, who lives in Cornwall and is a former ITU World Champion, is likely to have another close race with Spain’s Susana Rodriguez in the PT5 category for visually impaired athletes. She will be guided by Scotland’s Hazel Smith.

Steven Crowley, Kerry Large and Ruth Wilson all compete in the PT4 category and complete the British line up in Aguilas.

In Japan Mark Conway (PT1) and Chris Frost (PT4) represent Great Britain as the Paratriathlon event takes the same stage as the fourth round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama.

Selection for the British team at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place in June and be announced in July.

British paratriathletes racing this weekend:
Aguilas, Spain, Sunday 15 May: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
PT2: Ryan Taylor
PT4: Steven Crowley, Kerry Large, Ruth Wilson
PT5: Melissa Reid with guide Hazel Smith

Yokohama, Japan, Saturday 14 May: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
PT1: Mark Conway
PT4: Chris Frost

ITU World Paratriathlon Events 2016:

March 19-20: Buffalo City, South Africa

April 23-24: Penrith, Australia

May 14-15: Yokohama, Japan (held with ITU World Triathlon Series)

May 14-15: Aguilas, Spain

June 4-5: Strathclyde, Great Britain

June 19: Besancon, France

July 23-24: Rotterdam (ITU Paratriathlon World Championships)