Introducing mixed relay to AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds

For the first time, 2022 will see elite mixed relay racing take place in Leeds and provide a second day of world-class swim, bike, run to the weekend of 11-12 June.

Mixed relay triathlon made its debut at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, with Team GB taking the gold in Japan. This year, quartets will line up in Leeds as elite mixed relay returns to Britain for the first time since 2019 in Nottingham. So what is mixed relay?

Getting to know mixed relay triathlon

The format sees two men and two women team up for their nation to complete their own individual swim, bike, run. First into the water will be one of the male athletes who will then alternate with the female athletes to see one of the women cross the line.

Through to Tokyo the race started with a female athlete and ended with a male athlete, giving Yee the finish tape moment in Japan. For the Olympic cycle through to Paris, it will now be the other way round, with a female finisher for each nation.

What is the racing like?

Mixed relay is a quick-fire race that lasts approximately an hour and is action-packed from start to finish with plenty of changing between disciplines and athletes.

Tactics and athlete order play a big part in the racing, helping to make sure each athlete is able to showcase their skills to help propel their team towards the finish line.

In Leeds, each athlete will complete a 300m swim, 6.9km bike and 1.9km run in and around Roundhay Park, with the final athlete for each nation cheered over the finish line in-front of the grandstand by Waterloo Lake.

Hear from the experts

Jonny Brownlee: “I think it could be a great course in Leeds, in Roundhay Park, up and down the hills it’ll be perfect for the mixed team relay, so hopefully lots of people come and watch.

“It’s great to watch live because there’s so much going on and it’ll be short loops on the bike, short loops on the swim and the run, so there’ll be people going past you all the time.

“I’m proud to be part of a sport in triathlon that male and female distances are the same, race opportunities are the same, prize money is the same, and mixed team relay shows all of that. There we compete on the same courses as a team and race together, so it’s absolutely brilliant.”

Georgia Taylor-Brown: “It is a great idea to mix it up a little bit and be able to finish with a girl this time around. Alex brought it home for us in Tokyo and he got quite a lot of attention for that, so it’ll be nice to draw a bit of attention on to the women and see how that works.

“It will be really, really interesting but I don’t think it’ll change much for us because we are quite strong across the board, but it might pop other countries in the race for longer.”

How to watch

The grandstand in Roundhay Park will provide a great view across transition and the finish line, as well as part of the run and bike route for the mixed relay.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.