ITU will stage the event in partnership with XTERRA Southeast Championship, and it will feature a $20,000 (£12,700/€15,300) prize fund for elite athletes over the 1.5 kilometre swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run course.

ITU President Marisol Casado said: "The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with XTERRA for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships.

"We are confident the strong race organisation and dynamic course will continue to push Cross Triathlon to a new level."

Dave Nicholas, the race director of the XTERRA Southeast Championships, said: "TEAM unlimited is excited about bringing the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship to the United States.

"By combining the XTERRA series with ITU we are reaching new heights in cooperation between directors and the federations."

The 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships is the second such event after the successful staging of the 2011 edition in Extremadura, Spain.

The 2013 competition will be held in Netherlands in the town of Den Haag.

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