Triathlon_World_SeriesOctober 21 - President of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Marisol Casado has promised a "dynamic" bout of competition ahead as she announced the 2011 World Cup Series schedule.


More than 15,000 elite athletes will battle for $400,000 (£254,000) and ranking points for the 2011 World Championship and the 2012 Olympic Games when the series begins on March 27 next year.

"We are delighted the World Cup Series will travel to seven different countries and touch four continents in 2011," said Casado.

"It's a testament to the global nature of triathlon and the positive growth we envision for the future."

The series retains a consistency from 2010, welcomes back an old favourite and introduces an exciting new event.

It will travel to Colombia for the first time since 1992 when Guatapé becomes the first South American city since Rio de Janeiro in 2004 to host a World Cup.

And returning to the calendar after a three-year hiatus is Edmonton, site of the 2001 World Championships and six-time host of the World Cup Series.

The city that now boasts a world class triathlon academy thanks to the legacy of the long-running World Cup there.

"Next year's World Cup Series is an exciting mix of new events and long-running races with a strong place in ITU history," said Casado.

"We're proud to offer a dynamic series with cities that have shown to be incredible hosts and proven to be among the athletes' favourites."

The 2011 ITU Triathlon World Cup Series consists of:

March 27: Mooloolaba, Australia

April 17: Ishigaki, Japan

May 8: Monterrey, Mexico

July 3: Edmonton, Canada

August 14: Tiszaujvaros, Hungary

October 9: Huatulco, Mexico

October 15: Tongyeong, South Korea

November 6: Guatapé, Colombia

Earlier this month, ITU also announced its 2011 calendar of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series, the highest-profile international triathlon circuit.

Four best scores in the World Championship Series events and the ITU Triathlon World Cup events, plus the points gained in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Grand Final are considered as an athlete's final score, which decides world champions of the year.


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