The World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) returns to London this weekend on Saturday 25 July, after an 11-year hiatus. Organised by World Triathlon, the short-course, sprint-distance race will form part of the T100 London weekend at the Excel, where almost 5,300 amateur athletes will take on their own swim, bike, and run challenges. 

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon decided to switch out the professional T100km distance race for 2026 for a shorter WTCS format. 

The WTCS London event is the sixth race in a series of 10 across the year. However, the first race of the year in Abu Dhabi, set for 28-29 March, was postponed due to the war in Iran war. No date has been confirmed for the rescheduled race. 

As a key event on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, London is expected to play a significant role in Olympic qualification. The fast, technical course is set to create a world-class racing environment, with some of the best of triathlon’s sporting stars on the start line. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the London WTCS…

What happened in the 2025 WTCS?

The 2025 WTCS season got underway in Abu Dhabi, where Hayden Wilde claimed victory in the men’s sprint race, while Germany dominated the women’s podium, with rising star Lisa Tertsch taking her first win of the series.

Round two in Yokohama, Japan, delivered a breakthrough WTCS victory for Luxembourg’s Jeanne Lehair in the women’s standard-distance race. Battling torrential rain and strong crosswinds, Lehair broke away after T2 and ran the 10km solo to the finish line. In the men’s race, Matt Hauser produced a sterling performance to take the win and move into the championship lead.

Alghero, Sicily, hosted its first-ever WTCS event at the end of May, with Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand delivering a typically dominant performance to win the women’s race in 1:55:55 – 38 seconds ahead of Italy’s Bianca Seregni, while Great Britain’s Olivia Mathias claimed third. Both Seregni and Mathias secured their first WTCS podium finishes. In the men’s event, Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo impressed to take his maiden WTCS victory.

Hamburg welcomed the world’s best short-course athletes for the fourth round in July. Hauser continued his strong form with another men’s victory, while France’s Léonie Périault defeated Olympic champion teammate Beaugrand to claim her second WTCS win. Beaugrand finished second, with Paris 2024 bronze medallist Beth Potter completing the podium in third.

What has happened in 2026 so far? 

The season started strong for Potter and Vilaça, who both won the opening race of the year in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after the postponement of Abu Dhabi.

In Japan’s Yokohama three weeks later, it was Sweden’s Tilda Månsson who took the top spot in the women’s race, with Potter placing second just two seconds slower than Månsson. Lehair rounded out the final women’s podium. The men’s race also saw a new winner with Matthew Hauser taking gold, followed by Hidalgo and Luke Willian.

Heading to Italy next at the end of May, Beaugrand and Vilaça won their races in Alghero. Potter came second again, as did Hidalgo.

Beaugrand took the victory in her home race in Quiberon in June, with Månsson eight seconds behind in second place and Belgium’s Jolein Vermeylen in third. In the men’s race, it was another home win for Dorian Coninx, who pipped Vilaca by just one second to take the victory.

In the latest race in Hamburg, Germany, Hauser took his third first place of the series, battling with Vilaça, who came in second just a mere three seconds slower than his Aussie rival. Periault won the women’s race, with Lisa Tertsch five seconds behind, and Mansson a further seven seconds behind.

Who’s in the London WTCS Elite race? 

Over 100 elite racers will be heading to the city to take on this race, with 48 elite women and 55 elite men in total. 

In the women’s race, Beth Potter, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Cassandre Beaugrand, Taylor Knibb and Lisa Tershch are a few of those lining up for Saturday’s race. 

Potter is leading in the WTCS standings so far, with Luxembourg’s Lehair and Germany’s Tertsch in second and third, respectively, after WTCS Hamburg earlier this month. 

In the men’s race, Alex Yee announced he was racing on home soil, alongside Matt Hauser and Oliver Conway.

Vilaça leads the men’s WTCS overall standings and could be a major fly in the ointment for Yee, who will be hoping for a big win in his home city. Hidalgo and Batista follow Vilaça in the overall standings.

What’s the London WTCS course? 

Both elite races will start and finish at Excel London, with athletes taking on a sprint-distance triathlon comprising a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

The swim will consist of one lap in Royal Victoria Dock before athletes head back into Excel London, where the elite transition area will be located.

The bike leg will take place on an urban circuit, with athletes completing two laps to cover the 20km distance. With minimal elevation, the main challenge is expected to come from a handful of tight corners rather than climbing.

The final 5km run will take athletes around the Excel before finishing inside the venue, creating a stadium-style atmosphere for the race conclusion.

How can I watch London WTCS? 

You will be able to follow the athletes and watch the races on the World Triathlon Championship Series LIVE and on-demand at TriathlonLive.TV (subscription required). 

If you are in the UK, you’ll also be able to stream both the men’s and women’s elite races for free on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. 

When does London WTCS start? 

The times are local British Summer Time (BST).

Saturday 25 July 2026 

Elite Women’s Race: 14:30pm 

Elite Men’s race: 16:15pm

WTCS 2026 overview

• 28-29 March: WTCS Abu Dhabi, UAE (sprint and mixed relay) Currently POSTPONED
• 25 April: WTCS Samarkand, Uzbekistan (Olympic) COMPLETED
• 16 May: WTCS Yokohama, Japan (Olympic) COMPLETED
• 30 May: WTCS Alghero, Sardinia, Italy (Olympic) COMPLETED
• 20-21 June: WTCS Quiberon, France (sprint and mixed relay) COMPLETED
• 11-12 July: WTCS Hamburg, Germany (sprint) COMPETED
• 25 July: WTCS London (sprint)
• 29 August: WTCS Weihai, China (Olympic)
• 13 September: WTCS Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic (Olympic)
• 23-27 September: WTCS Finals Pontevedra, Spain (sprint, Olympic, mixed relay)

Paratriathlon elite racing in 2026 

• 13 March: World Para Series (1/4) Devonport, Australia
• 27 March: World Para Cup Abu Dhabi (POSTPONED)
• 25-26 April: World Para Cup Samarkand, Uzbekistan
• 16-17 May: World Para Series (2/4) Yokohama, Japan
• 20-21 June: World Para Cup Besancon, France
• 27 June: World Para Series (3/4) Montreal, Canada
• 4-5 July: World Para Cup Tegernsee, Germany
• 11-12 July: World Para Series (4/4) Hamburg, Germany
• 18 July: World Para Cup Tata, Morocco
• 5-6 September: World Para Cup Alhandra, Portugal
• 12 October: World Para Cup Chiba, Japan
• 24-25 October: World Para Cup Alanya, Turkey
• 30-31 October: World Para Cup San Pedro de la Paz, Chile