The International Triathlon Union (ITU) confirmed that its 2013 World Triathlon Series would culminate in a Grand Final on the London 2012 course in and around Hyde Park.

After crowning Sweden's Lisa Nordén and Jonathan Brownlee (pictured top, centre) as the 2012 ITU world champions following the Grand Final in Auckland, the ITU has confirmed that its 2013 World Triathlon Series visits eight cities in four continents.

Entering its fifth season, triathlon's premier global series features eight rounds of race action, culminating with the Grand Final on the London 2012 Olympic course in Hyde Park.

Japan will host a leg for the third time in Yokohama.

Every race will feature age-group races and all elite women's and men's races will be broadcast live to an international audience and streamed online live.

In 2012, the series was broadcast in more than 160 countries.

The 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series starts in Auckland, New Zealand on April 6-7; before moving onto San Diego in the US on April 20-21; Yokohama, Japan on May 11-12; Madrid, Spain on June 1-2; Kitzbühel in Austria on July 6-7; Hamburg, Germany on July 20-21; Stockholm, Sweden on August 24-25; before concluding with the Grand Final in London on September 11-16.

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