Following a recent rebrand from Super League Triathlon to supertri, the virtual-meets-real-world racing event – supertri E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift – is taking place as a single day event, with e-sports world titles decided at the London Aquatics Centre on April 13, 2024.
supertri E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift blends real life and virtual racing and featured at the IOC’s Olympic Esports Week. Athletes race in arenas, swimming in a pool with their efforts on the bike and run realised in a virtual race environment.
The event is packaged as a broadcast product, with the aim of delivering a new generation of esports fans and ‘pure in your face intensity’.
60 elite athletes will be competing in the one-day World Championship event in partnership with World Triathlon on April 13 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
A series of heats in the morning will see only 10 men and 10 women make it through to the final in the evening and a chance to lift the supertri E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift titles.
The heats will consist of two stages of swim, bike, run with a short break between them and a pursuit start for stage two. The finals will be the full supertri E World Triathlon Championship format (swim – bike – run // run – bike – swim // swim – bike – run) with a pursuit start in stage three.
As well as a World Championship title, the event also contributes points to the World Triathlon rankings. Previous winners include Great Britain’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter with Australia’s Sophie Linn and South Africa’s Henri Schoeman the 2023 victors.
supertri CEO and Co-Founder, Michael D’hulst, said “At supertri we believe in inspiration and entertainment, and so we have thought long and hard about the next era for supertri E and are delighted to announce this new twist on the format as well as the new branding for the event.
“The support of our partners, World Triathlon, in helping to deliver the supertri E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift is both a source of pride and so important for our sport.
“Moving to a single day World Championship event means the drama of the professional racing will be even more intense, with all 60 athletes arriving at the venue with a chance of winning a potentially career-defining title, and knowing that later that evening only one man and one woman will lift the trophy.”
He continued, “It is a hark back to a different era of triathlon, where one-day finals decided titles. It fits these formats so well, where any mistake is costly, and you have to deal with pressure, and also delivers the excitement of a true World Championship event weekend in a package that offers substantial future growth.”
Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President, said “There is innovation at the very heart of this intense race format, and this new look and one-day schedule for 2024 will bring that to the fore once more when we return to the London Aquatic Centre.
“This venue, and the crowds we have seen raising the roof over the years, underline exactly why this is the perfect stage for a one-day E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift, and there is no doubt that the athletes will produce another dose of thrilling entertainment for the spectators both there and watching around the globe on 13 April as they chase the world titles.”
Source : Tri-Today