Australia's top elite athletes will line up in the World Triathlon Championships Series Season Opener tonight (Friday, 3 March) at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The Aussies will face tough competition and some of the biggest names in triathlon from around the world as they aim to get their season off to a successful start in the sport’s most prestigious annual Series and claim crucial Olympic points.
Leading the charge for Australia will be top-ranked athletes Matthew Hauser and Natalie Van Coevorden. Hauser, ranked 7th in the world, will have a first Series Gold in his sights after a stellar 2022 season which saw him earn his first WTCS podium and Commonwealth Games bronze medal, while experienced Van Coevorden, ranked #22, is one of five athletes in the women’s field who’ve taken medals previously in Abu Dhabi will be looking to replicate that success on the Formula 1 track.
The Australian contingent will also include experienced Games campaigners and medallists Emma Jackson (London, Glasgow) and Jake Birtwhistle (Gold Coast, Tokyo, Birmingham), as well as Olympian Jaz Hedgeland (Tokyo) and Commonwealth Games representatives Charlotte McShane (Gold Coast, Birmingham,) Luke Willian (Gold Coast) and Brandon Copeland (Birmingham), and 3rd ranked Aussie young-gun Kira Hedgeland.
The race will consist of a 750m swim, followed by a 5 x 4km lap bike course with technical turns and rolling hills, and a two-lap run to the finish line.
Fans can catch all the action live on TriathlonLive.tv starting at 7pm AEDT for the women's race and 9pm AEDT for the men's race.
Women’s WTCS Abu Dhabi
3 March, midday local time (7pm SYD AEDT)
TriathlonLive.tv
Start List: Elite Women • 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi • World Triathlon
Men’s 2023 WTCS Abu Dhabi
3 March, 14:00 local time (9pm SYD AEDT)
TriathlonLive.tv
Start List: Elite Men • 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi • World Triathlon
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