Auckland to open ITU World Series in 2015

MADRID (AP) Auckland, New Zealand will open the ITU World Triathlon Series in March of next year while Chicago will host the Grand Final championship next September, with at least seven other events in between.

The International Triathlon Union said in a statement Friday that nine cities across five continents will host races in 2015, including the Gold Coast in Australia for the first time in the series.

After Auckland from March 28-29, it'll be the Gold Coast (April 11-12), Cape Town, South Africa (April 25-26); Yokohama, Japan (May 16-17); London (at a date to be determined); Hamburg, Germany (July 18-19); Stockholm (Aug. 22-23), Edmonton, Canada (Sept. 5-6) and the Chicago Grand Final from Sept. 15-20.

The ITU said a 10th city could be added to the 2015 calendar.