FAQs

The series is the highest level of annual, international triathlon competition, with the event itself taking place within the qualification window for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and providing a home race for elite British Athletes as they seek to qualify for the Games.

The weekend promises to deliver plenty of free, fun family activities to get involved with as well as swim, bike, run participation opportunities.

For further information on what the event entails visit AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland - MySunderland.

The event will take place Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July 2023.

Start lists for the event will be released in the weeks building up to the event, however you can expect elite athletes from around the world to be competing this summer in the individual and mixed relay formats

The event will take place on Marine Walk, Marina and along the Seafront. For maps detailing the various events please visit https://sunderland.triathlon.org/event_information/the_routes/.

Yes. Take part in the event weekend by dipping your toe into the world of swim, bike, run. Whether taking part as a family or stepping up to a personal challenge, we have everything you need to take on your first try at triathlon. Visit The BIG Swim Bike Run - MySunderland.

Sunderland has a wider activity programme based around swim, bike, run. There is a whole host of opportunities to get involved in. For more information visit BIG Swim, Bike, Run - MySunderland

Log into your myevents.active.com account and select ‘Registration & QR Code’, which you will find at the bottom of your entry summary. Here you will be able to review the category you have entered, any additional purchases made and your order receipt.

If you are still experiencing difficulties after accessing your account, then please email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org.

AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland races are open to the following ages:

· Standard distance – ages 17 and over as of 31/12/2023

· Sprint distance – ages 15 and over as of 31/12/2023

· The Big Swim Bike Run – ages 15 and over as of 31/12/2023

· Swim Bike Run Mini – ages 4 and over as of 31/12/2023

Participants under the age of 17 will need to provide consent from a parent or guardian and proof of age when they collect their race pack.

The Active System is designed to ask anyone under the age of 18 for parental consent when entering.

For participants who want to enter one of the races but are under the age of 18, you will need a parent or guardian to do so for you.

After selecting the category, you want to enter, firstly enter your parent or guardian’s details. On the same page there is a question which states ‘Who is this registration for’, please select the option – ‘Someone else, below 18’. Once you have pressed next, you will then have the opportunity to input the details of the participant who wants to compete, so the entry is in their name.

AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland races are open to the following ages:

· Standard distance – ages 17 and over as of 31/12/2023

· Sprint distance – ages 15 and over as of 31/12/2023

· The Big Swim Bike Run – ages 15 and over as of 31/12/2023

· Swim Bike Run Mini – ages 4 and over as of 31/12/2023

Participants under the age of 17 will need to provide consent from a parent or guardian and proof of age when they collect their race pack.

All aspects of the 2023 edition of the event will start and finish on Roker beachfront with participants enjoying the ‘blue carpet’ experience like the world’s best elite triathletes.

Relay teams will compete over either the standard distance or the sprint distance.

Each team will compete under one race number and be made up of either two or three individuals.

Each participant will complete one of the three disciplines, with team member one swimming the 1500m or 750m course, team member two cycling the 40km or 20km bike course, and the third team member running the 10km or 5km run course.

For teams of two, one member will complete two out of the three disciplines.

All team members will wear one timing chip each and start their leg of the race as soon as their teammate has arrived at their transition point.

All team members will have access to transition; however we ask that no more than two members of the team are in transition at any one time.

Yes. All the roads on the cycle and run course will be fully closed to traffic.

Yes, AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland will host the British Standard Distance Championships.

Only British Triathlon Home Nation members are eligible to compete in the British Standard Distance Championships.

Purchasing a day license does not make you eligible to race in the British Standard Distance Championships.

If you are not a British Triathlon Home Nation Core or Ultimate member and would now like to race in the championships, then a Core or Ultimate membership can be purchased prior to the event and retrospectively added to your entry.

It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure their membership is valid no later than 5pm, 3 working days prior to the championship event they wish to compete in i.e. 5pm Wednesday before a Sunday event.

For more information on membership please click here.

No, you do not. Being a British Triathlon Home Nation member will mean you are eligible to compete in the British Standard Distance Championships.

Details of Road Closures and “Traffic Gap” openings can be found here.

Residents in the affected areas will receive a letter in early July providing the specific detail.

Due to the nature of the event and for the safety of all athletes, all roads used for the cycling and running elements must be kept clear of all traffic (including parked vehicles). We therefore kindly ask residents to remove their vehicles from the public highway in any affected streets. Regretfully, we may need to remove vehicles parked anywhere along the event route. A cost associated with removal of any vehicle may be recovered from the vehicle owners.

There are a range of options available, please look out for the way finding signs. Please note there will not be a park & ride for this event. Due to the event Marine Walk and Harbour View car parks and the disabled bays on Marine Walk will be closed for the duration of the event.

Public Transport - Visitors can get to the event using bus or metro services. Please visit https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables for the latest information.

Park & Walk - a range of city centre car parks are available as well as free parking at Seaburn Camp SR6 8AD.

Cycling – Secure cycle parking will be available at Cliffe Park.

Seafront Parking - Limited Seafront Parking is available on Saturday at Dykelands Road, SR6 7QE on a first come, first served basis, however parking fees apply to these areas

Blue Badge parking - There is limited Blue Badge parking on the Seafront including Whitburn Road opposite Queens Parade and Dykelands Road Car Park, SR6 7QE. These operate on a first come, first served basis.

We would ask all visitors to park responsibly and not park within residential areas. Regretfully, we may need to remove vehicles parked anywhere along the event route. A cost associated with removal of any vehicle may be recovered from the vehicle owners.

Overnight parking in the participant car parks is not allowed and anyone doing so is at risk of their car being towed away.

Information about Road Closures and Parking can be found here.

Yes. Your race pack, which includes your race number, will be available to pick up from the registration tent at your designated arrival time.

Within your race pack you will receive the following items:

· Race number

· Bike sticker to be stuck on the stem of your bike saddle

· Helmet stickers to be stuck on the front and sides of your helmet

· Transition zone wristband

· Timing chip

· Timing chip ankle strap

Ambassadors will be on hand to help you get prepared for the race, so don’t panic!

Unfortunately, changing facilities will not be available at AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland.

Unfortunately, changing facilities will not be available at AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland, and it is expected that you will complete the whole event in whatever you wear to swim in. Nudity is not allowed at any time, so you can add clothing to the top of your swim gear, but not remove your swim gear before you dress for the bike and the run. Your upper body must be fully clothed during the bike and the run.

We recommend wearing a trisuit as you can complete the whole race it in without getting changed. Not only will this remove the worry of having to get changed into cycle gear but will also speed up your transition.

In transition, you are allowed to have the following items:

· Bike

· Helmet

· A small soft-sided bag such as a rucksack which should remain in transition and not impede the progress of another competitor

· Bike shoes, glasses and any other bike equipment or clothing required for the cycle section of the race

· Trainers for the run section

· Mobile phone*

*Please note that you are allowed to bring a mobile phone into transition but it must not be used while the transition area is live

Items not permitted in transition include:

· Helpers, friends or family members

· Items to mark your bike rack position in transition

· Pets

Wetsuits are made of neoprene which insulates your body against cold temperatures, helps your muscles and joints work efficiently, and improves buoyancy to keep your body position high in the water. Not only does this help you swim faster, but it also means you can take rests without using energy trying to stay at the surface.

On race day, the water temperature in the sea will be somewhere between 13˚C and 18˚C, so we recommend getting a wetsuit that is either 3mm, 4mm or 5mm thick (max).

Any thicker than 5mm and the wetsuit will lack flexibility and be hard to take off. Any thinner than 3mm and the wetsuit will offer less protection against the cold, so find one which is right for you.

Yes, you can. Any bike, including road or mountain bikes, can be used during the race providing that it is roadworthy.

Within transition you will have a specific place to rack your bike ready for the race, so you won’t need anyone to hold your bike.

For safety and security reasons, only competitors are allowed to go into the cycle transition area. Should you need help in transition, there will be plenty of Ambassadors on hand to help.

Once you have re-racked your bike in transition after completing the bike course, it will stay in the same place as you left it until you collect it after the race.

If you have any further questions about participating in The Big Swim, Bike, Run at AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland, please get in touch via our social media channels or email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org.

Every participant will need to be competent enough to complete the 50m open water swim in the sea.

Yes to armbands and/or tow floats, no to inflatable unicorns and rubber rings!

Each athlete’s requirements are different. For the Swim Bike Run Mini we would recommend the following:

• Swimming costume
• Goggles
• Small towel
• Running trainers & socks
• Water bottle
• Small bag for transition (to include your small towel, water bottle, running trainers & socks)
• Optional: Wetsuit – these can be your own or borrowed from us, please email info@gotri.org if you would like to find out more about borrowing a wetsuit for the event.

This is a duathlon, with a 50m sea swim and a 1km run.

One adult must be registered for a maximum of two children participating. In one family group, you can have a maximum of six participants (two adults, four children).

Yes! In one family group, you can have a maximum of six participants (two adults, four children).

In transition, you are allowed to have the following items:

• A small soft-sided bag such as a rucksack which should remain in transition and not impede the progress of another competitor.
• A small towel for you to use post-swim.
• Trainers for the run section
• Mobile phone* *Please note that you are allowed to bring a mobile phone into transition but it must not be used while the transition area is live

Items not permitted in transition include:

• Helpers, friends or family members
• Items to mark your position in transition
• Pets

Yes! We will have free wetsuits for you to borrow. Please email info@gotri.org if you would like to find out more about borrowing a wetsuit for the event.

This is a duathlon, with a 50m sea swim and a 1km run. “Swim Bike Run” is the name of the programme that this opportunity is part of. There is no bike leg to this race.

Wetsuit rules are, as per British Triathlon Competition Rules (section 4), dependent on water temperature:

< 14°C: Wetsuits Mandatory

14°C - 21.9°C: Wetsuits Recommended (Mandatory for BIG Swim Bike Run Competitors)

> 22°C: Wetsuits Banned for up to 60 year olds (this is highly unlikely)

Extra information:
Wetsuit thickness cannot exceed 5mm.

Yes. We have a whole host of volunteering opportunities available. From welcoming visitors and customer service to a range of event support roles. Please note you do not need to commit to the full two days. For more information and to register visit Volunteer - AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland

The start and finish line will be located on Marine Walk, Roker, SR6 0PL, however you can spectate anywhere along the route. A graphic of the route can be found at https://sunderland.triathlon.org/event_information/the_routes/.

The event Fan Zone at Cliffe Park will provide spectators with a live feed of the action on a big screen, as well as a wide range of activities, food and drink concessions, and exhibitors to visit. The route runs straight past the Fan Zone too.

No, the event is free. However for the best seat in the house, Grandstand tickets are available to buy from the event website https://sunderland.triathlon.org/ for both Saturday and Sunday afternoons for the elite races.

Grandstand tickets will be available to buy from the event website https://sunderland.triathlon.org/ for both Saturday and Sunday afternoons for the elite races.

The event Fan Zone at Cliffe Park will provide spectators with a live feed of the action on a big screen and a space to sit and enjoy the event, as well as a wide range of activities, food and drink concessions, and exhibitors to visit. The route runs straight past the Fan Zone too.

There will be a big screen in the event Fan Zone at Cliffe Park to watch the action. There will also be big screens at Roker Beach at the main finish area in front of the public grandstands.

Yes the event will be live on BBC 1 on Saturday afternoon and on BBC 2 on Sunday afternoon.

Final broadcast times will be announced closer to the event.

Yes, the fanzone will be located at Cliffe Park and will include, the Active Sunderland Family Festival, a Big Screen, catering outlets and other have a go activities. You will also be able to watch part of the elite events from this location as the cycle part of the race route runs past the footprint of the fanzone.

Yes. Toilets and baby changing facilities will be available on site. The primary location for this will be at the Fan Zone at Cliffe Park.

Yes. Businesses along the Seafront will be open during the weekend and there will be a wide range of activities, food and drink concessions, and exhibitors to visit at the Fan Zone in Cliffe Park.

Yes, however all dogs must be kept on the lead. Dogs will not be permitted access to the public grandstands.

Yes, however the paths around the main start / finish at Roker Beach are narrow and likely to be lined with spectators, so it may be more challenging than normal to access Roker Seafront. The event will have crowd management stewards to support public movement if required.

Yes, however the paths around the main start / finish at Roker Beach are narrow and likely to be lined with spectators, so it may be more challenging than normal to access Roker Seafront. The event will have crowd management stewards to support public movement if required.

Log into your myevents.active.com account and select ‘Registration & QR Code’, which you will find at the bottom of your entry summary. Here you will be able to review the category you have entered, any additional purchases made and your order receipt.

If you are still experiencing difficulties after accessing your account, then please email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org.

Please make sure you remember to bring the following items to registration:

· ID (Either a driving license or passport)

· British Triathlon Home Nation membership card

· Entry QR Code which can be found on your confirmation email or the Active website.

All race packs will be collected when you register at Roker Beach.

The content of your race pack is as follows:

· Race numbers

· Bike stickers

· Helmet stickers

· Timing chip

· Timing chip ankle strap

Should you be missing an item(s) from your race pack, please speak to the team at registration who will be able to assist you.

Bike and helmet stickers are there for your safety, security and identification throughout the event. Included in your race pack is:

· One bike sticker – wrap this around the seat stem of your bike.

· Three helmet stickers – place one sticker on the front and one on each side of your helmet.

Once you have registered, all stickers need to be applied almost straight away.

You CANNOT go into the cycle transition area without your bike or helmet stickers being applied for security reasons.

Yes. We carry out many scientific water quality tests throughout the year to monitor the water quality. Swimming will only be allowed if the water passes the water quality tests.

We use a very experienced swim safety team who provide a number of safety kayaks and rescue powerboats throughout the swim course.

Should you get into difficulty in the swim, lie on your back and raise one arm, a kayak will then escort you to safety. As you will be wearing a wetsuit, the buoyancy will help too, so please don’t panic.

The water temperature is likely to be somewhere between 13 ˚C and 18˚C.

An official water temperature will be available one hour before the race start.

Yes. For safety reasons, wetsuits will be compulsory for all open races at the event.

However, if the water temperature is 22˚C or higher one hour before the race start, then wetsuits will be banned. But this is highly unlikely.

Short leg and sleeve wetsuits are allowed to be worn during the open water swim section of the race. We do however recommend wearing a full wetsuit, as they offer more protection against the cold water temperature.

We recommend wearing a trisuit underneath your wetsuit as it will make your transition quicker and removes the need for extra clothes in transition. However, participants are allowed to wear a swimming costume or swim shorts instead.

There are no changing facilities in transition. It is expected that you will complete the whole event in whatever you wear to swim in. Nudity is not allowed at any time, so you can add clothing to the top of your swim gear, but not remove your swim gear before you dress for the bike and the run. Your upper body must be fully clothed during the bike and the run.

In line with British Triathlon’s Competition Rules, both gloves and socks are considered illegal equipment and cannot be worn while racing (Rule 4.11.e)

There are scenarios where exceptions can be made, including for those who suffer from Raynaud’s Disease. If medically advised to wear socks, gloves or any other item considered illegal during the race, a medical exemption request must be applied for.

A medical note stating the reason must be submitted to the Event Organiser and Technical Official on the day of the event.

If you need help or advice when applying for a medical exemption or are unsure on any of the illegal items stated in British Triathlon’s Competition Rules, then please email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org.

Yes. You will be issued with a coloured swim cap in your race pack at registration. Everyone must wear a swim cap for safety reasons. A swimmer is easier to see in the water if they’re wearing a swim cap.

All athletes who start in the same wave will have the same colour cap, but there will be more than one wave with the same coloured swim cap. Please make sure that you check your start time and don’t just go by the colour of the swim caps entering the water as it may not be your wave.

Any open water swim really does require goggles. We recommend using goggles which have lenses suitable for outdoors, as these are a slightly different colour to those you would typically use in a swimming pool where the water is clear, and the lights are bright.

Most open water swimmers would use a lightly tinted or persimmon coloured lens, which will make everything look clearer and crisper, especially if the weather is not too bright.

Prescription goggles are also acceptable.

Backstroke is not allowed as this can easily be confused with the distress signal and you cannot easily see where you are going. We recommend that you try to swim front crawl, but breaststroke is also permitted.

Yes. All the roads on the cycle and run course will be fully closed to traffic.

Drafting is cycling close to the bike in front of you and thereby gaining an advantage. All the open races are draft-illegal for the bike section. This means you cannot cycle closer than 10m from the bike in front of you, nor cycle alongside another cyclist closer than 3m.

Yes. You must wear a cycle helmet for the whole of the cycle section of the event. Your cycle helmet must be on your head and fastened whenever you are in contact with your bike. Do not take the bike off the rack until your helmet is on and done up, and don’t unfasten your helmet until your bike is back on the rack after your cycle section.

Medical support will be available at strategic points around the course. There will be no drinks stations.

Make sure your bike is in a roadworthy condition for the event. If you do have a flat tire during the race, you will have to fix it yourself. Carry your own fluids on the bike.

Yes. GPS tracking watches are allowed to be worn during the race.

External pacing instructions are not allowed.

Absolutely. Although a road bike may be faster, a mountain bike or hybrid bike is perfectly fine. The event is run under British Triathlon Competition Rules, and the permitted cycling equipment is explained in Section 5 of the rule book available from this link - https://www.britishtriathlon.org/competitionrules.

No, you do not have to use cleats/clipless pedals

Yes, you can as the open races are draft-illegal. All bar ends must be plugged, and safety checks will be carried out at the entrance to transition.

Your body race number should be worn on your back during the bike section. The easiest way to achieve this is by wearing the race number on a tribelt and ensuring the number is displayed on your back during the bike section. You will need to provide your own tribelt.

Yes. All the roads on the cycle and run course will be fully closed to traffic.

Yes. GPS tracking watches are allowed to be worn during the race.

External pacing instructions are not allowed.

Yes. Both medical support and drinks stations will be available on the run course.

Yes. It will make your race experience more enjoyable. Your trainers should be appropriately fitted and should be comfortable for running. If you want to speed up your transition, elastic laces can be used rather than normal laces.

However, whatever you do, do not wear brand new trainers on race day.

Your race number should be worn on your front during the run section. We recommend attaching your race number to a tribelt, as this is an easy way to keep your number on your front during the run.

Both transition 1 (swim to bike) and 2 (bike to run) will take place on Roker beachfront.

Your race pack will contain a wristband which will allow you access to transition. When you enter transition at your designated check-in time, you will need to show your security wristband. Without your wristband you will not be allowed to access transition.

Participants are not allowed to mark their position in transition in any way in accordance with rule 7.1. of the British Triathlon Competition Rules.

If you do try to mark your position, any distinguishing marks will be removed by the race officials while you are swimming. You should try to orientate yourself in transition by checking anything fixed such as row numbers and trees etc. near to your racking position.

Allow plenty of time when you first rack your bike to check out the ‘swim in’ area, the ‘bike out’ area and the ‘run out’ area in transition. Make sure you understand the way the flows work in transition.

Planning and practice are key to a speedy transition. When racking your bike and setting out your transition area, make sure all the equipment you need for the bike and run course are laid out neatly and make a mental note of where your bike is.

When your bike is in amongst the 1000+ other bikes of your fellow participants, it can be disorientating. Try to figure out a way of knowing where your bike is, whether that be by row number or a landmark that is close by. Also, make sure you check out the swim exit, bike exit and run exit areas so you know which way to go.

Equally important in a speedy transition is keeping calm. If you start to rush too much then that is when things start to go wrong, but if transition doesn’t go to plan, don’t worry, you can make the time up elsewhere.

Once you have crossed the finish line, we ask that you remove your own timing chip from your ankle. Please then take the chip off the Velcro strap and drop them in the allocated buckets.

Please remember to hand in your timing chip otherwise you will be charged for the chip as it will be considered lost.

If you accidentally kept your timing chip after the race, please make sure you email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org.

Please do so as soon as possible after realising that you still have it, otherwise you will be charged for the chip as it will be considered lost.

The timing chip you receive as part of your race pack is critical to your race as it will electronically record your race time splits as well as your overall time.

If you lose your timing chip during the race, please inform a Technical Official as soon as possible. They will be able to manually record your time so that you receive an overall time, but also make a note that you have lost it.

After you have finished your race, please also email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org to make us aware of your situation to ensure that you don’t receive a penalty charge for not returning your timing chip.

Any lost property found or handed in by a member of the public will be held at the help desk in the registration tent. Please speak to a member of British Triathlon staff at the desk if you have lost any personal belongings on the day of the event.

Alternatively, email us at sunderland@britishtriathlon.org with a detailed description of your lost item(s).

All participants are able to bring a SMALL bag into transition to hold all personal belongings and equipment. We recommend that when packing this bag you include warm clothes and a towel for after the event.

If the Participant wishes to withdraw from the Event at any point, they must do so by informing the Organiser by email immediately to sunderland@britishtriathlon.org; you must ensure that the email subject title is stated clearly as “WITHDRAWAL”.

No other method of withdrawal is accepted by the Organiser. The Organiser will confirm the withdrawal by email to the Participant normally within five working days.

A Participant may withdraw and be refunded in full (but not in the respect of the booking fees) up to 14 DAYS after the date of entry confirmation. Participants withdrawing after this 14-day period and by 5pm on Friday 5 May 2023 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds can be given to Participants withdrawing after 5pm on Friday 5 May 2023.

Please note – once entered, the booking fee cannot be refunded in any circumstances. The booking fee is paid for by the entries service which is fully consumed once a participant’s entry is accepted.

Full details can be found in the event terms and conditions here.

The swapping of entries (that is not an authorised transfer under clause 5 of the event terms and conditions) is not permitted under any circumstance. Swapping entries is strictly forbidden as it impacts the event insurance and potentially places the individual’s (and other participant’s) health & safety at risk. Any participants and other involved individuals who are found to have swapped their entries will be banned from participating in all future events promoted by the Organiser and referred to the relevant Home Nation Association who may choose to implement further disciplinary action.

Entries cannot be deferred to the next staging of the Event or transferred to another event delivered by the Organiser.

A Participant may transfer their entry to the Event to another eligible person within the same category no later than Friday 30 June 2023, subject to a £10 administration fee. Please email sunderland@britishtriathlon.org with your confirmation number to arrange a transfer.

Elite and performance entries (TriStar, Youth, Junior, Senior) are not eligible for transfer.

Yes. The event is run under British Triathlon rules which can be found here.

Do try to read through at your leisure well before the event.

Some of the most important rules relate to the cycle section and transition. For example:

• Your cycle helmet must be on your head and fastened whenever you are in contact with your bike. So don’t take the bike off the rack until your helmet is on and done up, and don’t unfasten your helmet until your bike is back on the rack after your cycle section.
• You must rack your bike in the correct allotted space in transition.
• You must not mark your position in the transition in any way.
• You must not use headphones or a mobile phone either in transition or at any time during the race.
• You cannot receive any outside assistance during the race, for example your friend cannot offer you a drink on the run course (only our volunteers can offer you drinks from our drinks stations) nor can anyone help you change a flat tyre on the bike section.
• No drafting on the bike course - which means not cycling too close to the bike in front.
• Your race number should be worn on your back for the cycle and on your front for the run. This is most easily achieved using a number belt, which you have to provide yourself.

There are lots more important rules not mentioned here, so do read the rulebook here.