VICTORIA—In an effort to provide a safe and competitive return to the domestic start line while regional restrictions for development-level triathletes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Triathlon Canada in partnership with its provincial sport organizations, have created a structured, regional competitive calendar for the 2021 season.
The National Development Series, which was originally created in 2019 as a 14-race series in an effort to provide more race opportunities for junior and under-23 athletes ages 16-23 to support the development and preparation of those making the transition into World Triathlon racing, will consist of seven competition windows for any high-performance athletes in Triathlon Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic pathways.
“COVID-19 has forced us all to adapt, to be innovative and adjust to a new way of doing things. Our number one focus is to support all of Canada’s triathletes in their continued development by providing safe training and competitive opportunities while respecting guidance by provincial government and health officials,” said Eugene Liang, high-performance director, Triathlon Canada.
“Athletes are born and bred to race, and do not want to be left behind their competition. While we realize these difficult times continue to create additional stress and anxiety for all of us, we believe this revamped regional series eliminates the dilemma for athletes, coaches, parents and officials to put their health at risk by traveling multiple times across the country for sport. Additionally it will reduce the continued speculation around events and restrictions.”
Short, fast and technical racing formats – which will be determined by provincial sport organizations in partnership with local organizing committees – will reflect the demands of competition and compeititve hardiness. The set competition windows will provide athletes and coaches with specified targets without the worry of race cancellations or changing COVID restrictions.
There is no maximum or minimum number of events that athletes are required to start in 2021. Working in collaboration with provincial sport organizations, Triathlon Canada has proposed the following competition windows and tentative events.
SESSION | WINDOW | ||
SESSION 1 Triathlon Canada Performance on Demand Series Ratified Times Submissions | May 2 to 8 | ||
SESSION 2 Provincial Event Formats TBC by Provincial Sport Organizations | May 22 to 29 | ||
SESSION 3 Provincial Event Formats TBC by Provincial Sport Organizations | June 4 to 11 | ||
SESSION 4 Triathlon Canada Performance on Demand Series Ratified Times Submissions | June 25 to July 2 | ||
SESSION 5 Provincial Event Formats TBC by Provincial Sport Organizations | July 9 to 17 | ||
SESSION 6 Provincial Event Formats TBC by Provincial Sport Organizations | August 7 to 14 | ||
SESSSION 7 Provincial Event Potential Canada Summer Games Test Event | Labour Day |
In the event athletes cannot attend one of the regional scheduled events, or that races are cancelled based on provincial health guidelines and restrictions, alternate formats of racing will be provided during the set competition window by the provincial sport organization that could include: ratified times; single sport time trials; centralized mini races; or virtual racing online.
The National Development Series is targeted towards athletes who are in the high-performance pathway but do not have World Triathlon points. The Series is designed to familiarize athletes and coaches with the World Triathlon system through the incorporation of World Triathlon-like points allocation, ranking, in addition to race formats and course profiles. A point system will be used for junior and under-23 athletes only to award the overall series winners with a 2XU prize package.
“Experience, exposure and cost-effective opportunities to train and race are key to the progression of high-performance athletes. Through the support of our provincial sport organizations, we feel this new-look Series respects the varying challenges provinces across Canada have in allowing for a return to competition, while providing safe opportunities for all of our high-performance athletes to get back on a start line this summer and continue their development while the pandemic continues to run its course.”
Registration for each event will be led by the local organizing committees and provincial sport organizations who will also be responsible for submitting all race results in a consistent manner to Triathlon Canada, which will publish updated standings every Friday for the duration of the National Development Series at 12 noon PST.
For complete information on the National Development Series