The World Triathlon Championship Series gets underway in Yokohama this weekend, with the Japanese City also hosting the second round of the World Triathlon Para Series. Ten Brits are on the start line.

World Triathlon Championship Series  

After the first round of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi was cancelled, some of the world’s best triathletes come head-to-head for the first time in Yokohama. They’re all looking to pick up vital points in the hopes of not only becoming World Champion later this year but also securing a spot at this summer’s Olympic Games.  

In the men’s race both Hugo Milner and Jonny Brownlee are the Brits aiming to be on the top step of the podium. Milner is making his Championship Series debut off the back of a busy start to 2024 that has seen him race five times already this year. His best result of the season so far came at Europe Triathlon Cup Quarteira where he ran his way through the field to claim the win. Brownlee, however, is racing for the first time since finishing 35th at World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra last September and will be hoping to return to a Championship Series podium for the first time since October 2022, where he won silver in Cagliari.  

The men’s race gets underway from 04:45 BST live on BBC Iplayer and the red button as well as Triathlon Live. 

The women’s race sees four Brits in action as Vicky Holland, Kate Waugh, Olivia Mathias and Sian Rainsley all go for gold. Holland returns to the highest level of triathlon racing for the first time since returning to the sport, with her last Championship Series race coming back in 2021 where she finished fifth in Abu Dhabi. The Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist comes into this race having competed three times already this year with her best finish being 11th at both 2024 E World Triathlon Championship London powered by Zwift and World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong.  

Kate Waugh, who was an impressive second at World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra at the end of last season, returns to action having won a silver medal at Europe Triathlon Cup Melilla back in April.  

Yokohama marks Mathias’ fourth race of the year having already raced in Rome, Napier and Hong Kong. Her best finish was a bronze medal at 2024 World Triathlon Cup Napier back in February.  

The final British interest in the women’s race is Rainsley. She marked her return from injury to win World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong in March and followed that up with tenth at World Triathlon Cup Wollongong a month later.  

The women’s race gets underway from 02:00 BST live on BBC Iplayer and the red button as well as Triathlon Live. 

World Triathlon Para Series  

Four Brits are on their respective paratriathlon start lines in Yokohama in what is the second World Triathlon Para Series race of the season. The first Para Series race of the season was back in March when British paratriathletes came away with seven medals in Devonport.  

One of those medal winners in Devonport, and in men’s PTS4 action in Yokohama, is Michael Taylor. Having won a silver medal on his last visit to Yokohama in 2021, he comes into the race after winning in Devonport back in March with a second gold medal following in April at World Triathlon Para Cup Yenisehir.  

The men’s PTVI race sees two Brits in action with both Dave Ellis, guided by Luke Pollard, and Oscar Kelly, guided by Jack Hutchens, on the start list. World Champion Ellis is racing for the first time this year after winning six straight gold medals in 2023 including World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra and the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games Test Event. Kelly, however, has already raced twice this season claiming back-to-back silver medals at World Triathlon Para Series Devonport and World Triathlon Para Cup Yenisehir.  

Claire Cashmore makes it a quartet of British paratriathletes racing in Yokohama as she goes for gold in the women’s PTS5 race. Cashmore is racing for the first time this year after enjoying seven visits to the podium in as many races in 2023, including silver medals at both World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra and the Paris Paralympic Games Test Event.  

The paratriathlon racing starts at 22:50 BST on Triathlon Live. 

To learn more about paratriathlon and how you can get involved click here.