The 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series starts on Friday in Abu Dhabi with seven British triathletes on the start line.
In the women’s race, defending world champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, Beth Potter, is looking to kick off the season with victory on a course she triumphed on in 2023. She’ll be joined by 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi silver medalist, Sophie Coldwell, who also won the second round of last season’s series in Yokohama.
Abu Dhabi also sees the return of Olympic gold medalist Georgia Taylor-Brown, who is in action for the first time since her seventh-place finish at 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Montreal back in June. Making up the quartet of British women competing in Abu Dhabi is Kate Waugh. She enjoyed a breakout season last year, claiming the Super League Triathlon Championship Series title and silver at the World Triathlon Championship Finals, Pontevedra behind teammate Potter.
The men’s race sees Alex Yee return to action as he aims to become world champion for the first time, after narrowly missing out in the previous two seasons. The Paris 2024 Olympian was on the podium on four occasions last year, including victories in Paris, Cagliari, and Abu Dhabi. Max Stapley returns to the World Triathlon Championship Series with Yee, after finishing 57th and 31st in Pontevedra and Sunderland respectively last year. He was also part of the British Mixed Team Relay quartet that won a silver medal in Sunderland. The final Brit on the start line is World Triathlon Championship Series debutant Dan Dixon. He comes into the race after finishing 15th at 2024 World Triathlon Cup Napier at the end of February.
Abu Dhabi will also host Mixed Team Relay action, where a British team will be competing on Saturday 9 March.
The individual races, as well as the Mixed Team Relay, can be watched on the BBC Red Button and IPlayer as well as Triathlon Live. The women’s race starts at 12:00 BST on Friday 8 March and the men’s race is on from 14:00 BST Friday 8 March. The mixed team relay takes place on Saturday 9 March from 11:00 BST.
As well as the opening round of 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series, this weekend is also the first World Triathlon Para Cup race of the year with six British paratriathletes racing.
In the men’s PTS3 race Henry Urand looks to build on his strong finish to 2023 where he picked up a silver medal at World Triathlon Para Cup Alhandra before winning World Triathlon Para Cup Taranto. Michael Taylor and Finley Jakes are the British interest in the men’s PTS4 race. Jakes heads to Abu Dhabi off the back of three trips to the podium in as many races at the end of 2023, while Taylor returns to action for the first time since the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea in July. The women’s PTS4 race marks the return of Megan Richter to paratriathlon as she competes for the first time since 2022, where she finished fourth at the World Triathlon Para Championships Abu Dhabi.
Tokyo Paralympic Games gold medalist Lauren Steadman is also back in paratriathlon action. She returned to the sport last year with five medals in as many races, including victory at the World Triathlon Para Cup Malaga.
Mel Nicholls makes up the British team in Abu Dhabi as she aims to build on her strong finish to 2023, winning three medals in as many races in the women’s PTWC race.
All the paratriathlon racing can be watched on Triathlon Live from 07:00 BST on Friday 8 March.
