Pippa 'may race on triathlon course'

The weekend 50,000 Londoners will see the world's finest triathletes - and possibly Pippa Middleton - race on the Olympic triathlon course.

Hyde Park is hosting the World Championships in one of the first test events for the 2012 Games. The elite competitors on Saturday and Sunday expect to complete the course, which goes past Buckingham Palace, in about one hour and 45 minutes.

But 4,500 amateur triathletes will also get the chance to try out the course, which involves a 1,500m swim in the Serpentine followed by a 40km bike race and a 10km run, or a "sprint" course of half each distance.

Formula One driver Jenson Button, who won the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, was due to take part but pulled out to holiday in Hawaii, while Miss Middleton, 27, is a possible starter.

Other test events include six days of beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade from Tuesday, a 140km cycling road race from the Mall to Boxhill in Surrey on August 14 and, in the Olympic Park, six days of basketball from August 16 and a BMX tournament on August 19-20.