Posted: November 22, 2005

Triathlon: USAT Announces Grand Prix Schedules

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 21, 2005) – USA Triathlon has announced the races that will make up its 2006 Grand Prix Series.

  2006 schedule of races

Next year will mark the inaugural season of the USAT Grand Prix Series. The series aims to showcase a selection of the best USAT sanctioned events and to give each race the opportunity to exhibit its individual characteristics on a National stage. The series races were selected based on strict criteria that included sanctioning compliance, safety, quality and athlete support.

“The USAT Grand Prix Series is a collection of the nation’s marquee events and by creating this Series we hope to provide athletes with the best lead up to the National Championships,” said Jeff Dyrek, the USAT national events director.

The 2006 Grand Prix Series includes youth, sprint, (intermediate distance) triathlon, long distance triathlon, duathlon and long distance duathlon categories. Athletes who participate in Grand Prix Series events and finish in the top 33 percent (at least the top five) in their age group will automatically qualify for the National Age Group Championship. Overall series champions will be crowned in each age group based on the USAT Grand Prix scoring system.

USAT is announcing the race schedules for all of the series except long distance triathlon. The races for the Long Distance Triathlon Grand Prix Series will be announced as soon as that series is finalized.

The web site addresses have been posted for all Grand Prix Series races and the race dates that have been confirmed are also posted. Check race web sites for updated race dates and registration information.

“We hope that this Series will bring about greater consistency amongst the various distances and disciplines, thus making the Series more relevant to our members,” said Skip Gilbert, USAT’s Executive Director.

 2006 Grand Prix Series schedule

2006 Grand Prix Series FAQs.