The World Cup circuit has been increased from eight events to 10, with the season due to get underway at Moolooaba in Australia for the 10th consecutive year when it hosts competition from March 12 to 13.

Following the first leg the triathletes will then compete from April 2 to 3 at New Plymouth, in New Zealand, with both the opening events set to feature sprint distance competition.

Triathletes will then travel to the Chinese city of Chengdu for the third event between April 16 and 17, which is then followed by a hilly event at Huatulco in Mexico from May 7 to 8, although the ITU have indicated another World Cup event may be added during the same weekend.

After a month’s break the World Cup resumes in Europe with races on June 18 and 19 in the Austrian town of Kitzbuhel, being followed by competition taking place on July 9 and 10 at Tiszaujvaros, Hungary.

The Canadian city of Montreal is then due to host its first World Cup race from August 6 to 7, before the Ecuadorian village of Salinas makes its debut when it welcomes athletes from September 24 to 25.

The penultimate event on the calendar is due to take place in Tongyeong, South Korea, from October 22 to 23 before the season draws to its conclusion the following weekend in Miyazaki, Japan.

The World Cup is a separate competition to the ITU World Triathlon Series, which determines the sport's world champion and finished this year at the Grand Final in Chicago this month.

“Not only do the ITU World Cup races create an important bridge to elite success for athletes, they also provide the opportunity to gain Olympic qualification points,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

“The races are an incredibly important part of the 2016 calendar.”

In addition to the World Cup season, the World Para-Triathlon Event schedule has also been revealed with athletes set to use it to hone their preparations for the sport’s debut at the Paralympics later in the year at Rio 2016.

Buffalo City in South Africa will get the Para-triathlon events underway when it hosts competition from March 19 to 20 and the following month the Australian city of Penrith is due to stage action from April 23 to 24.

Two events will be held between May 14 and 15 and will offer athletes the opportunity to gain Rio 2016 qualification points, with competition set to be held in the Spanish town of Aguilas while the second event in the Japanese city Yokohama will be staged in conjunction with the World Triathlon Series, which is set to take place on the same days.

Following those races competition with be held in both Besancon in France and Strathclyde in Scotland from June 4 to 5, before the season concludes in the Italian town of Iseo from June 25 to 26.

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