USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships Will Not Take Place As Scheduled

April 8, 2020

Tuscaloosa Mayor announces ban on all events through end of May

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced that the USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships will not take place as originally planned on May 30-31 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 global pandemic.

The decision comes after Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on Wednesday announced a ban on all events through the end of May to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and protect the capacity of Tuscaloosa’s healthcare system and the city’s most vulnerable populations.

The safety of all athletes, staff, volunteers and the community at large is USA Triathlon’s highest priority. USA Triathlon is exploring all options as it relates to Duathlon Nationals and will communicate updates to registered athletes as appropriate.

The event typically draws more than 1,000 run-bike-run enthusiasts from across the country each year. Top finishers in each age group qualify to represent Team USA at the following year’s ITU Sprint and Standard-Distance Duathlon Age Group World Championships, which are held as part of the ITU Multisport World Championships. The 2020 Multisport World Championships are scheduled for Sept. 4-13 in Almere, Netherlands, while the 2021 edition will take place in Townsville, Australia, from Aug. 6-15. Additional details regarding Team USA qualification and eligibility for 2021 will be forthcoming.

USA Triathlon is also hosting the USA Duathlon Virtual Run-Bike-Run presented by TOWER 26, an online event that will run from April 10-May 17. The event features both sprint-distance (5k run, 20k bike, 2.5k run) and standard-distance (10k run, 40k bike, 5k run) options. It is free to participate, and registration is now open at usatriathlon.org. Participants are encouraged to make an optional $35 donation to the USA Triathlon Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund as part of registration. Donations directly support race directors and coaches in the multisport community who are being significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. All donors will also receive an exclusive finisher medal.

Continual updates from USA Triathlon regarding COVID-19 are available at usatriathlon.org/coronavirusupdates. USA Triathlon continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19, while following the guidance of local authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), when making decisions regarding the status of USA Triathlon events and programs. Any further potential changes to USA Triathlon’s National Championships event calendar will be communicated immediately.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

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