Date confirmed for world triathlon competition’s visit to Leeds

Sports fans in Leeds were today given the date of what is likely to be one of the highlights of their 2016 calendar.

The city was last month picked as a host for a stage of next year’s ITU World Triathlon Series.

And now it has been announced that the prestigious event will take place over the weekend of June 11 and 12.

It will be shown on BBC TV and will also be broadcast to viewers in countries right around the world.

The June date means the Leeds race will offer the final chance for fans to watch top triathletes like the city’s own Brownlee brothers in action on home soil before the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Alistair Brownlee said: “Triathlon has come from a sport that hardly anyone knew about, to in 2016 there being a World Series race in my home city of Leeds.

“In Leeds the entire city is going to be behind the triathlon.

“It’s going to be the major event of the summer, and I think the whole city will get behind it.

“Hopefully hundreds of thousands of people are going to come out to support the sport.”

His brother Jonathan said: “Having a World Series race right here at home is amazing, and it’s just a year away.

“This will be a really big part of our Olympic build up, and what a send-off it will be to be cheered along by thousands of home fans before we go.”

The event will be delivered by the ITU, triathlon’s world governing body, in conjunction with British Triathlon and Leeds City Council.