With the 2014 World Triathlon Series London (www.worldtrilondon.com) rapidly approaching - the Elite's racing this Saturday, 31st May - we take the first look back at the history of ITU racing in Hyde Park. London has been an ever-present on the the top tier of ITU racing since the introduction of the World Championship Series (later rebranded World Triathlon Series for 2012), in 2009. In 2012 of course Hyde Park was the venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games Triathlon.
That first race in 2009 saw Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee and Switzerland's Nicola Spirig take the top spots on the podium. Three years later they would be winning Olympic Gold on the very same finish line, while Spain's Javier Gomez crashed out on the bike. The win would be Alistair Brownlee's fourth win on the newly initiated Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series, and he would go on to win the Grand Final on the Gold Coast too to earn his first senior World Championship title.
You can revisit the full race report HERE, and also watch the video highlights from the men's race below.
Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship London 2009
15th August 2009
Pos
Men
Women
1st
Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 1:41:50
Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:54:24
2nd
Steffen Justus (GER) 1:41:58
Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:54:26
3rd
Kris Gemmell (NZL) 1:42:01
Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1:54:29
4th
Sebastian Rank (GER) 1:42:01
Elizabeth May (LUX) 1:54:33
5th
Laurent Vidal (FRA) 1:42:16
Anja Dittmer (GER) 1:54:55
6th
David Hauss (FRA) 1:42:17
Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1:54:57
7th
Courtney Atkinson (AUS) 1:42:24
Ricarda Lisk (GER) 1:55:00
8th
Tony Moulai (FRA) 1:42:29
Debbie Tanner (NZL) 1:55:05
9th
Tim Don (GBR) 1:42:31
Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1:55:07
10th
Jonathan Zipf (GBR) 1:42:32
Sarah Groff (USA) 1:55:16
Other British athletes:
Men: Will Clarke 15th, Jonny Brownlee 27th, Aaron Harris 42nd, Stuart Hayes 43rd, David McNamee DNF.
(NOTE - following the later disqualification of US athlete Mark Fretta for doping offences, all of the British men were retrospectively moved up one position from the finishing positions shown, Fretta having crossed the line 12th on the day).
Ladies: Jodie Stimpson 11th, Hollie Avil 16th, Liz Blatchford 22nd, Jodie Swallow 23rd, Kerry Lang 25th
2014 World Triathlon London Information
Website: www.worldtrilondon.com
Dates and times:
Saturday 31 May
8am Elite Paratriathlon
2.30pm Elite men’s race
4:05pm Elite women’s race
Sunday 1 June
9am-5pm Amateur races
Location: Hyde Park, W2 2UH
Nearest tube stations: Marble Arch, Lancaster Gate, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner
Entry fee: Free-to-view