Yokohama is set to host the first World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) race of 2022 this weekend on a day that promises to be full of excitement and fast-paced triathlon racing.
The Olympic-distance course is flat and technical, while athletes will be crossing their fingers for no rain as last year’s event saw some slippery roads and nail-biting crashes.
The race will be based in the futuristic Yamashita Park, with the swim taking place over a two-lap 750m course in between Osanbashi and Yokohama Pier.
The nine-lap bike and four-lap run will fly past government buildings and museums with many twists and turns that’ll demand high concentration from competitors. Check out the course map here.
How can I watch WTCS Yokohama?
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You can watch all races live on TriathlonLIVE.tv, while UK audiences can also stream live coverage of the men’s and women’s races via the BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport app and the Red Button. Click here to watch all the action on the BBC Sport website.
When does WTCS Yokohama start?
The race will start the following times (local) on Saturday 14 May:
- 6:50am: Paratriathlon race start
- 10:16am: Elite women race start
- 13:06am: Elite men race start
The UK is eight hours behind, which means the paratriathlon race will start at 10:50pm on Friday 13 May, while the men’s and women’s races will start at 2:16am and 5:06am, respectively, on Saturday 14 May.
Who’s racing WTCS Yokohama?
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With most athletes having already arrived in Yokohama to acclimatise to the heat and humidity, some of the world’s best triathletes and paratriathletes are set to toe the line.
While France’s Vincent Luis led the swim last year, a disappointing sixth will have him hungry for the podium on Saturday. Kiwi and Olympic silver medallist Haydn Wilde is also set to race, alongside GB’s main hope and running powerhouse, Alex Yee.
The women’s race looks to be an overwhelmingly British affair, with the likes of silver Olympic medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown on the start list alongside teammates Beth Potter, Non Stanford, and Sian Rainsley.
And let’s not forget world and Olympic champion Flora Duffy (BER), who’ll be looking to prove her World Triathlon dominance after winning the overall 2021 title. American duo Taylor Knibb and Taylor Spivey will also be looking to mix things up on race day.
World Triathlon 2022 Championship Series
The 2022 series will visit seven different locations during the season, which officially started in September 2021 with WTCS Hamburg and then continued in November with WTCS Abu Dhabi where Flora Duffy and Jelle Geens took the win. With seven races still left to take place, it’s set to be a packed season of elite racing.
WTCS 2022 overview:
- 14-15 May: WTCS Yokohama
- 11–12 June: WTCS Leeds
- 25–25 June: WTCS Montreal
- 9–10 July: WTCS Hamburg
- 7–8 October: WTCS Cagliari
- 5–6 November: WTCS Bermuda
- 23–26 November: WTCS 2022 Finals Abu Dhabi
Top image credit: World Triathlon Media/Janos Schmidt