Multisport
What is Multisport?
The sport of “Triathlon” encompasses a whole collection of formats outside of the standard “swim, bike, run” that are collectively referred to as “Multisport”. The Multisport disciplines are not Olympic or Paralympic sports, but provide exciting, challenging and unique opportunities to engage. There is something for everyone from those looking for an epic test of endurance on the long distance courses to those who love being off the beaten track in the mountains, to those who love to swim, bike or run but not all three together! There is even a winter sport tucked into the Multisport fold. See the sections below for more information on each format.
Aquabike
Aquabike
Aquabike comes in two distances: standard and long distance. In both cases, these events are the same as their “triathlon” counterparts just excluding the run portion. Distances are as follows:
- Standard Aquabike: swim 1500m, bike 40km
- Long Distance Aquabike: Swim 1.9 to 4km, bike 91 to 200km
If the event is held in conjunction with another event, participants are often given the option to complete a short run from transition to the finish line so that they can cross. However, the event is officially complete when the athlete re-enters transition from the bike course.
Long-Distance Aquabike and Standard Aquabike are included in the World Triathlon Championships for Age Group athletes. The minimum age requirement for both distances is 18.
Aquathlon
Aquathlon
Don’t like to cycle? Aquathlon is for you.
As per the World Triathlon Competition Rules, Aquathlon has a “regular” and a “cold water” format. In Canada, the cold water model is the most common as most open water swim venues have a water temperature of under 22 degrees Celsius. In this case, the event is a swim / run rather than a run / swim / run. The following distances are most common:
Standard Distance (Cold Water)
Swim – 1km
Run – 5km
Minimum Age: 16
Long Distance (Cold Water)
Swim – 2km
Run – 10km
Minimum Age: 18
Aquathlon is included in the TRI Multisport World Championships Festival for both Age Group and Elite athletes. The race distance is typically the standard in either the regular or cold water formats.
Cross Triathlon
Cross Triathlon
Cross Triathlon is an off-road version of the typical triathlon format of swim, bike, run. Mountain biking and trail running are substituted in for an exciting and challenging cross-country experience. The run portion often includes unique features to add some extra grit.
The TRI Competition Rules outline several distance options for this event as follows:
Sprint
Swim – 500m
Bike – 10 to 12km
Run – 3 to 4km
Age Minimum – 16
Standard
Swim – 1 to 1.5km
Bike – 20 to 30km
Run – 6 to 10km
Age Minimum – 18
Cross Triathlon is included in the TRI Multisport World Championships Festival. The Age Group and Elite events are typically over the standard distance. Junior and para athletes compete on a sprint course.
XTERRA brand events are the most commonly recognized cross triathlon events in the country and includes a professional or elite field. Canada is home to several XTERRA events, including:
XTERRA Victoria – Victoria, BC
XTERRA Quebec – Quebec City, QC
XTERRA Conquer the Crater – Sudbury, ON
XTERRA Sleeping Giant – Thunder Bay, ON
Cross Duathlon
Cross Duathlon
World Triathlon has recently added Cross Triathlon into the Multisport family. Cross Triathlon is an off- road triathlon discipline. This event consists of cross-country run/ mountain bike/ cross-country run in both a sprint and standard distance. Distances are typically as follows:
Sprint Distance
Cross- country run – 3 to 4km
Mountain Bike – 10 to 12km
Cross- country run – 1.5 to 2m
Minimum age: 16
Standard Distance
Cross- country run – 6 to 8km
Mountain Bike – 20 to 25km
Cross- country run – 3 to 4km
Minimum age: 18
Duathlon
Duathlon
Duathlon is the perfect sport for non-swimmers! The event consists of a run / bike / run with several distance options, with the following as the most common:
Sprint Duathlon
Run – 5km
Bike – 20km
Run – 2.5km
Minimum Age: 16
Standard Duathlon
Run – 5 to 10km
Bike – 30 to 40km
Run – 5km
Minimum Age: 18
There are team relay, middle and long distance events also included in the TRI Competition Rules, but they are not typically offered in Canada. Both sprint and standard duathlon are included in the TRI Multisport World Championships Festival for both Age Group and Elite athletes. The Sprint event is typically draft-legal for all, making for a very exciting format to race and spectate as riders work within their packs for position.
Long Distance Triathlon
Long Distance Triathlon
Long Distance Triathlon mirrors the typical triathlon format of swim, bike, run. The TRI Competition Rules for this event dictate a minimum age of 18 to participate, and provide a range for the required distance for each element as follows:
Swim – 1.9 to 4km
Bike – 91 to 200km
Run – 22km to 42.2km
Long Distance Triathlon is included in the WT Multisport World Championships Festival for both Age Group and Elite athletes. Distances are typically approximately a 3km swim, and 120km bike and a 30km run.
IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brand events are the most commonly recognized races that closely align with this format, although neither is perfectly within the distances outlined above. IRONMAN 70.3 is typically a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike and a 21.1km run. A full distance IRONMAN is typically a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike and a 42.2km run. Canada is home to several IRONMAN events including:
Subaru IRONMAN/IRONMAN Canada – Penticton, BC
Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria – Victoria, BC
IRONMAN 70.3 Calgary – Calgary, AB
Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka – Muskoka, ON
Subaru IRONMAN/IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant – Mont-Tremblant, QC
Winter Triathlon
Winter Triathlon is the perfect event for Canadians! There are two formats defined in the TRI Competition Rules:
S3 Winter Triathlon
In Canada, the preferred event is the S3 Winter Triathlon, which consists of:
Standard Distance:
Run – 4 to 6km
Skate – 10 to 14km
Cross-Country Ski – 7 to 9km
Minimum Age: 16
Winter Triathlon
Winter Triathlon is the more popular format internationally, and consists of cross-country running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. There are several distances to choose from:
Sprint
Cross-Country Run – 3 to 4km
Mountain Bike – 5 to 6km
Cross-Country Ski – 5 to 6km
Minimum Age: 16
Standard
Cross-Country Run – 7 to 9km
Mountain Bike – 12 to 14km
Cross-Country Ski – 10 to 12km
Minimum Age: 18
There is a stand-alone WT Winter Triathlon World Championship event for both Age Group and Elite athletes. It does NOT currently include the S3 Winter Triathlon format.
TRI Multisport World Championships Festival
The events in the TRI Multisport World Championships include:
- TRI Aquathlon World Championships
- TRI Aquabike (long distance) World Championships
- TRI Sprint Duathlon World Championships (draft-legal)
- TRI Standard Duathlon World Championships
- TRI Cross Triathlon World Championships
- TRI Cross Duathlon World Championships
- TRI Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
The Multisport World Championships are hosted in a festival format with all seven events running over approximately a week of racing. Athletes can participate in more than one race as long as there is a minimum of 24 hours between events. The Long Distance Triathlon and Aquabike events are usually run together, but most host cities allow enough time between all the other possible events.
Canada hosted the inaugural Multisport World Championships Festival in 2017 in Penticton, BC, and fielded a team of more than 900 athletes!
Ready to turn pro?
Multisport has several streams of elite racing. World Triathlon has elite divisions as part of the Multisport World Championships, and several World Cup events in disciplines such as duathlon and winter triathlon.
IRONMAN and XTERRA both have professional divisions, and Canada has produced some extremely successful athletes. Greats such as Brent McMahon, Lionel Sanders, Heather Wurtele, Rachel McBride, and Melanie McQuaid are some of our highly decorated Pros.
Turning “pro” isn’t just a commitment to excellence. It is a lifestyle, a passion and a business. You’ll be racing among the best in the world – and it requires mental strength, time and financial management to keep you on top of your game.
Selection Criteria / International Competition Card (ICC)
TRI Multisport Elite
The elite events in the TRI Multisport World Championships include:
- TRI Aquathlon World Championships
- TRI Sprint Duathlon World Championships
- TRI Cross Duathlon World Championships
- TRI Cross Triathlon World Championships
- TRI Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
- TRI 2×2 Mixed Team Relay World Championships
Team Selection:
For the full Team Selection Criteria please click here.
- Entries for these events must be managed by the National Federation as per the ITU Rules
- An International Competition Card is required to gain access to a wait list or start list
Ironman Professional Athletes
In order to race as a professional on the IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 circuit athletes need to obtain an IRONMAN Pro Card. IRONMAN has aligned with World Triathlon, so endorsement from a National Sport Organization is required. For Canadians, the first step is to obtain an International Competition Card with Triathlon Canada.
International Competition Cards
Click here for more information on International Competition Cards.
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