Lausanne, Switzerland, September 13, 2016: Following the recent International Triathlon Union Executive Board meeting in Rio de Janeiro, and on the heels of the completion of the 2017 World Triathlon Series calendar, the ITU is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2017 World Cup races. Lausanne, Switzerland, September 13, 2016: Following the recent International Triathlon Union Executive Board meeting in Rio de Janeiro, and on the heels of the completion of the 2017 World Triathlon Series calendar, the ITU is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2017 World Cup races. "The ITU World Cup races create an important bridge to elite success for athletes," said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado.

"We’ve seen how useful the World Cups are both for the development of athletes, as well as the sport, which is why we are thrilled to bring more World Cups to next year’s schedule." The 2017 World Cup calendar will touch down in 17 cities, and includes a variety of new and familiar hosts on all five continents.

2017 ITU Triathlon World Cup season:

February 11-12: Cape Town, South Africa
March 11-12: Mooloolaba, Australia
April 1-2: New Plymouth, New Zealand
*May 6-7: Chengdu, China
May 27-28: Madrid, Spain
June 3-4: Cagliari, Italy
July 22-23: Tiszaujvaros, Hungary
August 12-13: Merida, Mexico
September 2-3: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
September 23-24: Huelva, Spain
*September 30-October 1: Weihai, China
September 30-October 1: Cozumel, Mexico
October 7-8: Sarasota, USA
October 28-29: Salinas, Ecuador
*October 28-29: Tongyeong, Korea
November 4-5: Buenos Aires, Argentina
*November 4-5: Miyazaki, Japan

China is slated to host two World Cup races, beginning with the return of Chengdu. While Weihai has hosted many ITU triathlon races, it will welcome a World Cup for the first time. Other races to touch down in Asia include Miyazaki, Japan and Tongyeong, Korea for a total of four races on the continent.

The 2017 season will mark the 10th time Tongyeong has welcomed a World Cup, while just the second for Miyazaki. Cape Town, New Plymouth, Cagliari, Merida, Cozumel, Tongyeong and Buenos Aires will feature sprint races, while Tiszaujvaros and Chengdu will offer a semifinals-finals format. All other races will be Olympic distance.

*In other news:

2017 ITU World Triathlon Series calendar:

• Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 3-4
• Gold Coast, Australia – April 8-9
• Yokohama, Japan – May 13-14
• Leeds, England – June 10-11
• Hamburg, Germany – July 15-16
• Edmonton, Canada – July 28-30
• Montreal, Canada – August 5-6
• Stockholm, Sweden – August 26-27
• Rotterdam, Netherlands – September 14-17

Source: www.triathlon.org