The World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS), which was clinched by British Olympic victor Alex Yee in 2024 following his success at the Paris Olympics, is set to make a comeback to London in 2026 during the London T100 Triathlon weekend.
This upcoming London WTCS race has secured funding from the National Lottery through UK Sport, in collaboration with British Triathlon. The event will mark its return to the capital after a hiatus since 2015, scheduled to take place on July 25-26, 2026.
Taking place at the Excel Centre, the event will be managed by the PTO and London Marathon Events as part of the renowned London T100 Triathlon weekend. The recent edition of this event witnessed nearly 6,000 amateur participants, including notable figures like Adam Peaty, Billy Monger, and Gordon Ramsay with his family.
In a strategic move, the PTO and World Triathlon have decided to transition from the professional T100km distance races to the shorter WTCS format for 2026. The amateur segment of the weekend will continue to offer the PTO’s signature 100km triathlon, alongside Olympic, Sprint, and Relay options.
PTO CEO, Sam Renouf, expressed the significance of bringing a WTCS race back to London, highlighting the opportunity to build on the success of British athletes at the Paris Olympics. The collaboration between PTO, World Triathlon, and British Triathlon aims to promote the sport to wider audiences and leave a lasting legacy beyond the event.
The long-term partnership between PTO and World Triathlon, established in October 2024 and extending until 2036, focuses on exploring new avenues to enhance the sport’s growth. This collaboration has already led to innovative initiatives like the T1 Indoor World Cup in France and hosting WTCS races alongside T100 events in various locations.
The CEO of London Marathon Events, Hugh Brasher, expressed their excitement in hosting the WTCS as part of the London T100 Triathlon weekend, emphasizing the event’s role in inspiring more active participation and drawing parallels to the London Marathon in the triathlon calendar.
Antonio F. Arimary, World Triathlon President, highlighted the adaptability of working with the PTO on different professional triathlon distances to align with various opportunities. The decision to reintroduce a WTCS race to London reflects the collective effort to expand the sport and enhance the overall triathlon experience.
The PTO, in collaboration with British Triathlon, aims to promote the event extensively to drive participation and engage the community through a comprehensive grassroots program, ensuring a positive impact beyond the racing weekend.
Ruth Daniels, CEO of British Triathlon, emphasized the excitement of bringing a major event back to London, providing British athletes with a platform to showcase their talent on home soil. The event is envisioned not only as a sporting spectacle but also as a means to introduce triathlon to diverse audiences through grassroots initiatives.
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport, reiterated the commitment to supporting world-class sporting events using National Lottery funding to boost fan engagement and community involvement, underscoring the positive impact on local communities in London.
This development adds to the thriving sports scene in London, complementing recent initiatives like the Mayor Of London’s focus on women’s sports events drawing significant crowds to the capital, further enhancing the city’s sporting landscape.