OLYMPIC and World Champion athletes the Brownlee brothers have lent their support to a new full-length triathlon launching in the Yorkshire Dales.

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee are supporting the new Dalesman Triathlon which will help raise funds for their Brownlee Foundation.

Organisers, TriHard Events, are behind the event which will take participants on a 140-mile route through the challenging landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales.

Around 500 triathletes are expected to take part in the event, based at Ripon Racecourse, on August 23 with full, half and quarter distances available.

This will be the first full-distance triathlon for TriHard Events, who organise a series of events across the North including The Redcar Sprint Triathlon and A Day in the Lakes Triathlon.

The Triathlon Industry has been growing each year since Alistair Brownlee’s gold medal win in the 2012 London Games and subsequent world successes of the brothers on both the Olympic and World Championship stage.

The Dalesman route takes in a collection of Yorkshire towns and villages including Ripon and Masham and passes through The Nidderdale AONB. Riders will take on sections of the routes used in the Tour de France 2014 Grand Départ, Yorkshire 2019 UCI Road World Championships and Tour de Yorkshire.

Rob Wilkins, founder of TriHard Events, said: “We are so excited to be launching our first full-distance Triathlon this year, and there truly isn’t a better backdrop than the Yorkshire Dales.

“We are equally delighted to be partnering with the Brownlee Brothers to raise funds for their incredible foundation whilst also offering an impressive prize bundle for our participants.

“TriHard, are very excited that Alistair and Jonny who have both participated in our Helvellyn Triathlon, are keen to be associated with this event.

“They know the course and think it is great as it gives a true flavour of the Yorkshire Dales without being over challenging.”

The Brownlee Brothers added: “We are really pleased to be supporting The Dalesman Triathlon.

“The course uses some of our training routes and so we know just how stunning it is.

“There is also the opportunity to raise some funds for our Foundation, which is great news.”