2017 Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast hosts first sprint distance race of the season

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - The World Triathlon Series torch gets passed to Oceania this weekend as the elites take on the second stop of the season at the 2017 Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast. This year will mark the second straight time that Australia has hosted the second stop of the Series, but unlike last year the elites will set foot on a sprint-distance course for the first time in 2017.

With all the hype of the one-year countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games which will be held in the Gold Coast, all eyes will be on the elites in preparation for what is to come next year. 

Before the elite action gets underway, the 2017 World Paratriathlon Series also debuts its opening race of the season this Saturday, as the renamed Series will see a full roster of the sports top talent compete under the newly unveiled sport categories. 

Women's Preview
Men's Preview
Paratriathlon Preview
Season Media Guide

ABOUT THE RACE: 
Gold Coast served as the first Grand Final World Championship race for the ITU World Triathlon Series when the WTS first began back in 2009. That meant the race was the first World Championships which saw the world titles won over the course of the season in lieu of a one-day hit out race. With 70km of coastline, the "surfer's paradise" is also the perfect location for a triathlon. This weekend will see not only the elites compete, but also offers three different triathlons for athletes of all ages and abilities to get involved in the sport.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Saturday 8 April - 14:00pm UTC/GMT+10 Click here for the time in your area 
Elite Men 
Saturday 8 April - 16:00pm UTC/GMT +10 

International Triathlon Union
Press Release • April 05, 2017
2017 Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast hosts first sprint distance race of the season while the 2017 World Paratriathlon Series officially kicks off 

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - The World Triathlon Series torch gets passed to Oceania this weekend as the elites take on the second stop of the season at the 2017 Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast. This year will mark the second straight time that Australia has hosted the second stop of the Series, but unlike last year the elites will set foot on a sprint-distance course for the first time in 2017.

With all the hype of the one-year countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games which will be held in the Gold Coast, all eyes will be on the elites in preparation for what is to come next year. 

Before the elite action gets underway, the 2017 World Paratriathlon Series also debuts its opening race of the season this Saturday, as the renamed Series will see a full roster of the sports top talent compete under the newly unveiled sport categories. 

Women's Preview
Men's Preview
Paratriathlon Preview
Season Media Guide

ABOUT THE RACE: 
Gold Coast served as the first Grand Final World Championship race for the ITU World Triathlon Series when the WTS first began back in 2009. That meant the race was the first World Championships which saw the world titles won over the course of the season in lieu of a one-day hit out race. With 70km of coastline, the "surfer's paradise" is also the perfect location for a triathlon. This weekend will see not only the elites compete, but also offers three different triathlons for athletes of all ages and abilities to get involved in the sport.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Saturday 8 April - 14:00pm UTC/GMT+10 Click here for the time in your area 
Elite Men 
Saturday 8 April - 16:00pm UTC/GMT +10 Click here for the time in your area 


WEBSITES:
http://goldcoast.triathlon.org/
START LISTS:
Click here for the women's start list 
Click here for the men's start list 
Click here for the paratriathlon start lists

PRIZE MONEY:
$150,000 USD (equal for men & women)  
LIVE COVERAGE:
Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlonlive.tv and on twitter at @triathlonlive. There will also be a live stream available for the paratriathlon races at https://triathlonlive.tv/goldcoast. Below is a media login to watch the races for media use only.  

COURSE PROFILE:
Swim (750m) - 1 lap, anti-clockwise direction in the Broadwater Parklands. 
Bike (20km) - 4 laps of 5km per lap, clockwise direction along the Gold Coast Highway.
Run (5km) - 2 laps of 2.5km per lap, clockwise direction in front of the Broadwater Tourist Park. 
STORIES TO WATCH FOR:   

Previewing the Commonwealth Games
It is one year to go until the 2018 Commonwealth Games head to the Gold Coast. The first medal awarded at the Games will be at eh women's triathlon race, so as the 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion Jodie Stimpson (GBR) lines up this weekend all will be watching as she previews the same venue she will compete at next year.

Mola Returns to Repeat
While Mario Mola's (ESP) eighth-place finish in Abu Dhabi did not give him the result that he normally can produce, he has shown a strength on the shorter sprint courses, so he will be in his element on Saturday. He also is the reigning WTS Gold Coast Champion, so he will be on the move to get a repeat title this weekend.

A Friendly Rivalry to Start the Season
Australians Sally Pilbeam and Kerryn Harvey will renew their rivalry on Saturday (8 April) when the ITU World ParaTriathlon Series gets underway on their home course in Gold Coast. It is actually the rivalry that makes them better in the women’s PTS4 category.

PAST GOLD COAST WINNERS 
WOMEN                            MEN   
ITU World Triathlon Series
2016: Helen Jenkins (GBR)      Mario Mola (ESP)
2015: Gwen Jorgensen (USA)  Jonny Brownlee (GBR) 
2009: Emma Moffatt (AUS)       Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2009 Under23 ITU World Championships
Hollie Avil (GBR)                       Franz Loeschke (GER)
2009 Junior ITU World Championships
Emmie Charayron (FRA)           Mario Mola (ESP)