 Rheintal Duathlon April 2010 | |
| Highest governing body | World Triathlon |
|---|---|
| First contested | 20th century |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Mixed-sex | No |
| Type | Endurance sport |
| Equipment | Bicycle |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | No |
| World Games | 2013 (invitational) |
Duathlon is an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg in a format similar to triathlons. The World Triathlon governs the sport internationally. [1]
Duathlons are conducted at sprint, standard, middle and long distances. The following distances are considered typical for the sport; however, individual races may vary.
Off-road duathlon is a form of duathlon, where the competitors have to go through a trail-running stage and a mountain-biking stage, finishing with a final running stage. Off-road duathlons are distinguished from conventional duathlons in that the terrain for the cycling and running stages are generally unpaved, rough, and very steep and hilly. They require different techniques than conventional duathlon races, and the athletes employ mountain bikes rather than road bikes.
Duathlons are most similar to triathlons, with the key difference being the replacement of the swimming leg with a second run. Other sports derived from triathlon include aquathlon, which combines swimming and running but has omitted the cycling part, and aquabike, with the swim and bike and no run.
The word duathlon is also used for some events which comprise running or walking and cycling, but not in three stages, such as the annual Highland Cross in Scotland. [2] The word duathlon does not appear in the online Oxford English Dictionary as of March 2020 [update] , nor in the 11th edition (2008) of Chambers Dictionary , but a definition available online from Collins English Dictionary defines it as "an athletic contest in which each athlete competes in running and cycling events" without specifying the three-stage structure of the International Triathlon Union's definition. [3]
In this variation, the cycling and running segments need to be undertaken simultaneously by a team consisting of a predetermined number of individuals. Only one of the team members is running while all others are cycling. All the members of a team must be together at any given point of time but exchanging the tasks of running and cycling amongst the team members themselves is permitted.
The challenge is to rotate the task of running at an optimum rate such that the time from start to destination is minimized. This demands a smooth coordination amongst all team members which makes the sport more exciting. An example is the 100 km-Duathlon around Dresden which is the oldest of its kind in Germany. [4]
World Triathlon organizes the World Triathlon Duathlon Championships on a yearly basis since 1990. Since 2017, it has been part of the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships although it was run as a separate event again in 2021, as the Multisport World Championships was cancelled. [5]
Powerman Duathlon is a major run bike run brand in the world. [6] The Powerman Duathlon World Series [6] is the major international duathlon series with 10-20 middle to long distance races across the globe each year. The series incorporates National, Continental and World Championships as well as numerous series races awarding points to crown an overall series winner at the end of the season after the world championships in September. [7]
The world's largest duathlon to date is the inaugural London Duathlon, which took place on 17 September 2005 in Richmond Park, Surrey. Approximately 2,500 people took part. The main race consisted of a 10 km (6.2 mi) run, 20 km (12 mi) cycle ride and 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Since 2005 London Duathlon has grown to just under 4,000 participants. 2010 saw the first running of the Ultra Distance at London which will consisted of 20 km (12 mi) run, 77 km (48 mi) bike and 10 km (6.2 mi) run. In its ninth year, London Duathlon took place on Sunday 14 September 2014 and offered athletes of all abilities the chance to race through the stunning surroundings of Richmond Park while on closed roads. "Classic" distance consists of a 10 km (6.2 mi) run, 44 km (27 mi) cycle ride and 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
The World's premier duathlon is Powerman Zofingen, in Switzerland. It is a hilly 10 km (6.2 mi) run, mostly on trails, followed by a very hilly 150 km (93 mi) road bike consisting of three, 50 km (31 mi) loops each of which feature the Bodenburg ascent (scene of Kenny Souza's DNF in a snow storm when he raced in a neon Speedo and small tank top), and finally a very hilly 30 km (19 mi) two loop trail run.
The longest continually running duathlon series is still organized by the NY Triathlon Club [8] in and around New York City, US.
With the popularity of extreme sports, a new form of duathlon has become popular in the last few years. Referred to as an off-road duathlon, or "Dirty-Du", it consists of an off-road or trail run, followed by a mountain bike leg followed by a final off-road or trail run. The Dirty Du off-road duathlon series, held in Texas, was made famous by Lance Armstrong, who won it in 2003.
A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included. The word is of Greek origin, from τρεῖς, 'three', and ἆθλος, 'competition'.
XTERRA is a series of cross triathlon races, i.e. three-sport races which include swimming, mountain biking, and trail running. The XTERRA Global Tour is owned and produced by XTERRA Sports Limited. The XTERRA race series is the best-known series of cross triathlons, and is considered by most to be the de facto world championship of the sport.
World Triathlon, previously known as the International Triathlon Union (ITU), is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other nonstandard variations. It is recognised as the international federation for the sport of triathlon and its derivatives by the International Olympic Committee, and it organises Olympic triathlon events on behalf of the IOC.
An aquathlon is a multisport race consisting of continuous run and swim elements. Competitors complete a swim immediately followed by a run over various distances. Athletes compete for fastest overall course completion, including the time transitioning between the disciplines.
Cross triathlon, or off-road triathlon, is a form of triathlon, or three-stage race, consisting of a swim stage, mountain-biking stage, and a trail-running stage.
Conrad Willem Stoltz is a triathlete from South Africa. He is a four time XTERRA Triathlon World Champion and a three time ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion.
Benny Vansteelant was a Belgian duathlete. For the first decade of the 21st century he was the uncontested icon of Duathlon, winning more than 80% of the races he started at.
Emma Jane Pooley is a British-Swiss athlete in multiple sports. A former professional cyclist who specialised in time trials and hilly races, she later transferred to endurance running, duathlon and triathlon, and was four-times world champion in long-distance duathlon. She competes in long-distance and uphill mountain running and has represented Switzerland at the world trailrunning championships.
The World Triathlon Duathlon Championships is a duathlon championship competition organised by World Triathlon. The race has been held annually since 1990. The championships involve a continuous run-cycle-run, with the format since 1994 being a first run of 10 km, a cycle of 40 km and a second run of 5 km.
Powerman Duathlons are duathlon events that are competed over middle distance to long distance duathlons across the globe at both Age Group and Elite level. All events are draft illegal allowing competitors to compete utilising time trial or triathlon bikes following the Powerman and ITU race regulations
Melanie Burke is an athlete from New Zealand. She has been a national champion or New Zealand representative in rowing, road running, cycling, duathlon, and Ironman triathlon.
The men's triathlon was one of the triathlon events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. It took place on 7 August 2012, featuring 55 men from 32 countries. It was the fourth appearance of an Olympic men's triathlon event since the first at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The race was around Hyde Park, a 1.42 km2 park in central London. The race was held over the "international distance" and consisted of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) swimming, 42.959 kilometres (26.693 mi) road cycling, and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) road running.
The women's triathlon was one of the triathlon events at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. It took place on 4 August 2012, featuring 55 women from 31 countries. It was the fourth appearance of an Olympic women's triathlon event since the first at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The race was around Hyde Park, a 1.42 km2 park in central London. The race was held over the "international distance" and consisted of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) swimming, 43 kilometres (27 mi) road cycling, and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) road running.
The Europe Triathlon Championships are the main triathlon championships in Europe organised by Europe Triathlon. Conducted over the 'standard' or 'Olympic' triathlon distance of a 1500m swim, a 40 km bike and 10 km run, the event has been run since 1985.
The World Triathlon Championship Series is World Triathlon's annual series of triathlon events used to crown an annual world champion since 2008. There are multiple rounds of competitions culminating in a Grand Final race. Athletes compete head-to-head for points in these races that will determine the overall World Triathlon champion. The elite championship races are held, with one exception, over two distances, the standard or 'Olympic' distance and the sprint distance. The ITU world champion between 1989 and 2008 had been decided in a single annual championship race.
The ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships is a long-distance duathlon race, held annually since 1997, except for a break in 2009 and 2010. The championships involve a continuous run-cycle-run. The distances are typically around two to three times those of the shorter ITU Duathlon World Championships, in both cases varying according to the venue; they have also varied over the years. The championships are organised by the International Triathlon Union (ITU).
Matt Smith is an Australian duathlete from Perth, Western Australia. He is the 2015 Sprint (16-19) and 2016 Standard (20-24) Age Group Duathlon World Champion. He was also the Australian Duathlon Champion in 2014 and 2015 (16-19), and 4th place elite in 2016. He is currently ranked number 15 in the Powerman Duathlon world rankings.
The Powerman Zofingen is a duathlon event in Zofingen (Switzerland) within the Powerman Duathlon World Series. On September 3, 2017, the world championships in the long distance was held for the tenth time in Zofingen, canton Argovia. The official name is ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships.
Peter Ellis is a British Elite and Age Group duathlete from The New Forest, England. Competing at Elite level he is a four time Powerman Duathlon World Series race winner with wins in Gothenburg, Michigan and Hawaii, securing further podium finishes in Putrajaya, Panama City and Arizona. He finished the 2016 Powerman Duathlon World Series in 29th, 2017 in 7th, 2018 in 11th and 2019 in 2nd reaching a Powerman Duathlon World ranking of 2nd in June 2019 and World Triathlon long distance Duathlon ranking of 2nd in September 2019. Selected by British Triathlon to compete for the Great Britain Elite team at the ETU European Elite middle-distance duathlon Championships Copenhagen, St Wendel and Viborg, the ASTC Asian Elite middle-distance duathlon Championships Putrajaya, and the ITU World Elite long-distance duathlon championships Powerman Zofingen.
Alexander Amos Yee is a British professional triathlete and distance runner. He won the gold medal in the Men's Triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the silver medal in the same event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the gold medal in the Triathlon Mixed Relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the bronze medal in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. With two golds, one silver, and one bronze medal, Yee is the most successful triathlete in Olympic history.
Media related to Duathlon at Wikimedia Commons
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