We’re in for some seriously exciting matches once racing gets underway on Saturday with all the athletes from Team Europe, Team US and Team Internationals pushing their limits to prove themselves the best, rack up the points and be the first team to ever lift the Collins Cup.

Here’s the lowdown on all 12 matches and how they could play out. Don’t miss your chance to make your own predictions in the Collins Cup Fantasy Competition, where you could be in with a shot at winning some incredible prizes.

Between now and race day, we’ve got the athlete press conference to look forward to on Friday 27 August at 10:00 CEST while the main Collins Cup broadcast begins at 12:30 CEST on Saturday 28. Head over to the Collins Cup broadcast information page to see how to watch in your region.

Women’s Matches

Match #1

Team Europe – Daniela Ryf (PTO #1)
Team US – Taylor Knibb
Team Internationals – Teresa Adam (PTO #2)

Team Europe Captains Natascha Badmann and Normann Stadler went hard out the gate by picking Daniela Ryf for the first-ever Collins Cup matchup. Ryf is, without doubt, one of the sport’s greats – a strong swimmer, an unbelievably powerful cyclist and a sensational runner. 

Team Internationals Captains Lisa Bentley and Simon Whitfield matched the world #1 with the world #2 – Teresa Adam. Adam is an athlete who could put time into Ryf during the swim and one of the only athletes in the sport with a chance of matching the Swiss Miss on the bike. While the Kiwi’s run stats fall short of Ryf’s, Adam’s not raced since January – and never before in Europe – so her running form could surprise on Saturday.

In Taylor Knibb, Team US Captains Karen Smyers and Mark Allen went straight in for a tactical pick in match #1, pitting the speed of an up-and-coming short-course star against these two proven iron-distance champions. At the recent World Triathlon events in Canada, Knibb – the Collins Cup’s youngest competitor – showed she’s one of the sport’s best swimmers and bikers. Meanwhile, while her 1:21 run split at 70.3 Boulder is faster than Adam has ever produced over the distance. Add in the fact that this battle will be fought over 2km, 80km and 18km and Knibb is a genuine contender for the win.

Match #2

Team Europe – Lucy Charles-Barclay (PTO #4)
Team US – Katie Zaferes
Team Internationals – Paula Findlay (PTO #6)

Lucy Charles-Barclay has shown herself to be adept at all distances but her tactics are well known to the other teams – use her swimming strength to make a gap, ride hard and try to maintain that buffer for the run. While the Brit might fulfil the first part of that gameplan in the water, her lead to a pair of stellar swimmers in Paula Findlay and double Olympic medallist Katie Zaferes might not be great enough to put her out of sight.

Findlay has beaten Charles-Barclay before, the Canadian running away to take the win at Challenge Daytona in 2019. Findlay’s bike stats also give her the edge on the second discipline so she could wipe out any swim deficit before the matchup is over.

Katie Zaferes is the second wildcard for Team US. While she’s unproven at middle-distance events, the American’s pedigree speaks for itself as a World Triathlon Champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze and silver medallist. An awesome swim, bike, runner with no weaknesses, Zaferes could show the other two what speed really is.

Match #3

Team Europe – Anne Haug (PTO #3)
Team US – Jackie Hering (PTO #15)
Team Internationals – Jeanni Metzler (PTO #11)

Match #3 will be a battle of the runners. Team Europe’s Anne Haug is widely considered the sport’s best in the third discipline – reflected in a running rating of 100%. That means the only tactic for Team US and Team Internationals will be to put time into the German before the run begins.

Jeanni Metzler is an incredible runner herself, with a fastest half-marathon split of 1:15:26 this season. On paper, the South African should beat both Haug and Hering out the water, too. So, if she can hold an advantage by T2, she could take the win.

Hering shares the same 84% swim rating as Haug, so the two could well hit the bike together. If that’s after Metzler, there could be some tactical plays when it comes to whose job it is to lead the charge.

Metzler has beaten Hering in three of their last four races together – though it was the American who took the most recent scalp. However, Haug thrashed them both at the PTO 2020 Championship at Challenge Daytona.

Match #4

Team Europe – Holly Lawrence (PTO #5)
Team US – Skye Moench (PTO #10)
Team Internationals – Ellie Salthouse (PTO #16)

Holly Lawrence is a seriously tough competitor and a middle-distance specialist who’s highly accomplished in all three disciplines. But that doesn’t mean it’ll be a walkover for Team Europe in match #4. 

Lawrence is likely to lead this trio out the water but Ellie Salthouse, who’s also a great swimmer and a middle-distance maestro herself, could stay on the Brit’s toes then force her to work on the bike.

While Moench might lose a bit of time in the swim, she’s the strongest cyclist of the three and beat Lawrence the last time they raced together at 70.3 St George. So unless there’s a significant gap, it could all come back together by T2 – leaving the race to be decided on the run. 

All three athletes are well-matched here but with no love lost between Lawrence and Salthouse, the Aussie – who’s undefeated in 2021 over middle-distance – could have the extra motivation to clinch victory.

Match #5

Team Europe – Emma Pallant-Browne (PTO #7)
Team US – Chelsea Sodaro (PTO #22)
Team Internationals – Sarah Crowley (PTO #13)

On paper, match #5 should be a win for Team Europe. With her overall ranking of 94%, Emma Pallant-Browne’s only slight weakness is in the swim though she still trumps Sodaro and Crowley in that department.

Even if American super-mom, Sodaro, and iron-distance Aussie, Crowley, can stick to the Brit’s feet in the water, it’s unlikely they’ll drop her on the bike – Pallant-Browne has shown she’s a match for anyone but Daniela Ryf on two wheels.

On the run, Pallant-Browne is impeccable, her fastest split a 1:16:54 this season. Could we see the Brit take extra points for a match domination? It could be on the cards. 

Either way, the more exciting battle could be for second place between Sodaro, who’s still on the upward swing back to her best after returning from maternity leave, and Crowley, the iron-distance powerhouse whose skillset might not suit this shorter course.

Match #6

Team Europe – Kat Matthews (PTO #9)
Team US – Jocelyn McCauley (PTO #41)
Team Internationals – Carrie Lester (PTO #8)

Match #6 is a battle of long-course warriors. All three women have performed over the iron distance this season – and all broken the nine-hour barrier in the process.

With higher swimming rankings, there’s a chance the McCauley and Lester could edge out Matthews on the swim. Lester would then be hoping to use her bike prowess – she’s rated 96% – to make a gap before the run.

Both Lester and McCauley will need time on Kat Matthews before the run as the Brit has shown she’s an athlete to be feared on the final leg. Matthews ran 2:49:48 for the marathon in May – the fastest time of the last five years. That said, the 18km finale isn’t ideally suited to any of these iron-forged specialists, so there could be an upset by the finish line.

Men’s Matches

Match #7

Team Europe – Jan Frodeno (PTO #1)
Team US – Sam Long (PTO #4)
Team Internationals – Sam Appleton (PTO #15)

With the world #1 ranking, the iron-distance world record and a winning streak that goes back to the start of the 2018 season, everyone is expecting Jan Frodeno to perform at the Collins Cup. That puts a huge target on his back and gives both the German’s competitors extra incentive to be the one to topple the champ.

A superb swimmer, Sam Appleton should be out the water with Frodeno but will need to pull out something special on the bike as Frodeno’s 99% run rating is significantly higher than his own 85%. Perhaps the safe bet will be to shadow Frodeno for as long as possible and try to score maximum points over Sam Long – then again, where’s the fun in that?

At just 25, Long has rocketed to the top of the sport with a massive bike-run combo and the personality to match. The Big Unit will be desperate to beat Frodo and while his bike is ranked higher – 99% versus 94% – the American might just lose too much time in the swim to make it count. One thing’s for sure though, Long won’t let up for a second in the chase – recently coming from behind to beat Appleton in Boulder, which is sure to give him a psychological edge.

Match #8

Team Europe – Gustav Iden (PTO #3)
Team US – Rudy Von Berg (PTO #8)
Team Internationals – Kyle Smith (PTO #27)

As PTO 2020 Champion and reigning 70.3 world champ, Norway’s Gustav Iden is the real deal. An athlete who gets stronger as the race progresses through the disciplines, it’s Iden’s run that earned him both titles – beating Rudy Von Berg on both occasions.

Von Berg will be seeking to distance Iden in the swim and with a similar pace through the water as Kyle Smith, the pair could work well over the 2km to put a little time into Iden. Von Berg is higher-ranked on the bike than Smith but the Kiwi is no slouch having ridden sub-two-hours in a half this year.

The pair will need quite a buffer to stave off the Norwegian’s inexorable run speed, but there’s a chance Iden could simply run out of road to make the catch.

While Smith appears the underdog of the match-up, he definitely shouldn’t be counted out for the win. The New Zealander had the fastest swim and bike times at the 70.3 European champs in June and with a shorter run, this could be the perfect distance for him.

Match #9

Team Europe – Sebastian Kienle (PTO #19)
Team US – Andrew Starykowicz (PTO #33)
Team Internationals – Lionel Sanders (PTO #2)

Sebastian Kienle’s form coming into the Collins Cup is a complete unknown. He’s been rehabbing injuries and hasn’t raced since May. If he’s back to his best, the German’s a true warrior who will stop at nothing – this is a man who rode an entire 180km bike leg with a piece of glass digging into his foot.

Lionel Sanders wanted the match-up against Sebastian Kienle, who he’s battled with twice before at Challenge Samorin and come out on top both times. The pair are similarly matched in the swim but Sanders should have the edge on the bike and run. However, he’s just a week post a big iron-distance race in Copenhagen so whether he’s firing on all cylinders could make the difference here.

While Sanders is ranked 100% on the bike, Starykowicz – who’s ranked 99% – has a long reputation as the sport’s most dominant cyclist. A late call-up for the Collins Cup, Starykowicz is also a better swimmer than both Kienle and Sanders, so should be off up the road before that pairing leaves the water. Realistically, though, he’ll need at least five minutes in hand to have a chance at victory, which could be just too much in a race this length.

Match #10

Team Europe – Daniel Baekkegard (PTO #10)
Team US – Ben Kanute (PTO #11)
Team Internationals – Max Neumann (PTO #17)

Based on the rankings, this is one of the closest Collins Cup matchups we’ll get to see on Saturday. Daniel Baekkegard, Ben Kanute and Max Neumann are all spectacular swimmers and will surely stay together in the water. They’re also bike and run powerhouses, all ranked within a couple of percent of each other.

Baekkegard is an athlete everyone’s been talking about – his win at 70.3 Bahrain this year was the third-fastest ever over the distance, probably making him the one to beat here.

Kanute, meanwhile, has shown he can maintain his short-course speed alongside his middle-distance focus. If anything, this slightly shorter bike and run distance only favours the American, who recently took his fourth straight victory at Escape From Alcatraz, an iconic standard-distance race.

Neumann is the least known of the three but is a double IM Asia Pacific Champion. Don’t let those iron-distance wins fool you though, the Aussie is a seriously fast athlete who’s run 1:10 this season. 

All in all, this one’s too close to call.

Match #11

Team Europe – Patrick Lange (PTO #7)
Team US – Matt Hanson (PTO #9)
Team Internationals – Braden Currie (PTO #6)

Braden Currie is an incredibly consistent performer. He’s not had the chance to race outside his native New Zealand over the last two years, so will be desperate to test himself against this tough competition. The strongest swimmer in the match and equal to the others on the bike, his run ranking is also just 1% lower than Patrick Lange’s at 96%.

A two-time Kona winner, Lange is arguably the world’s best iron-distance runner. However, while the German excels over the longer races, his middle-distance palmares aren’t quite of the same calibre, his last win coming in 2017.

Lange’s improved swim-bike could be crucial in the match, especially if he can stick behind Braden Currie in the water to distance Matt Hanson. If the pair reaches T2 with an advantage, we should be in for an exciting shoulder-to-shoulder run.

However, with a 100% run rating, Matt Hanson could have the speed to close down anything but a colossal lead. Throughout 2021, the American has proven himself the best middle-distance runner in the world, seemingly constantly surging through the field to put in race-best splits. If Hanson reaches T2 with the others, Team US could score top points here.

Match #12

Team Europe – Joe Skipper (PTO #5)
Team US – Justin Metzler (PTO #54)
Team Internationals – Jackson Laundry (PTO #26)

Team US Captains’ Pick, Justin Metzler, was brought onto the team on the back of his great second-place at IM Coeur d’Alene and fifth-place at 70.3 Boulder recently. Metzler’s ace card here is his swim, where he could distance both his competitors and solo away to build a lead.

Jackson Laundry comes to the Collins Cup in rising form after going third, second and first in his last three races. If he’s within hailing distance of Metzler after T1, the pair could work well together on the bike to keep Skipper at bay. Metzler and Laundry are ranked at 89 and 90% on the run so we should see a good battle between the two.

Joe Skipper is one of the fastest bike-runners in the business with a 96% bike rating and 100% run rating – credentials he’s often underlined at iron-distance races. At the middle distance, he’s less consistent and has yet to put a win against his scorecard. There’s no doubting his talent though, he could yet pull something out the bag – if he can overturn what’s likely to be a significant swim deficit.

History In The Making

With such an array of talented and well-matched athletes going head-to-head in this totally new race format, triathlon history will be made on Saturday. Not only is the team dynamic new to long-course triathlon but with Team Captains able to help shape race outcomes through radio communications and access to athlete data, it’ll be a fascinating new take on what the sport of swim, bike and run can be.

The race coverage gets underway at 12:30 CEST on Saturday but there’s plenty more to watch on the Collins Cup website or iOS/Android app before then including both parts of the PTO’s Beyond Human documentary and the Battle For Glory and Greater Than One video series.

The post The Collins Cup: Final Matchups appeared first on PTO.

The Collins Cup is coming up this Saturday and as the excitement ratchets ever higher, you can get even closer to the action with the Collins Cup Fantasy Competition.

After the fun of the Tokyo tri fantasy game, which featured over 1,300 participants, the stakes are higher this time around. While the Collins Cup Fantasy Competition is completely free to play there’s a Grand Prize of an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2022 Collins Cup on the line – the trip of a lifetime for any triathlon fan.

Meanwhile, second-and third-place finishers will bag a TAG Heuer connected watch. There are also plenty of prizes to be won courtesy of Wahoo, the event’s Official Transition Partner, including a Wahoo KICKR Bike for fourth place, Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainers for fifth and sixth place and Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL multisport watches for seventh to 10th place.

If that whets your appetite to give it a go, read on for how to get started with the Collins Cup Fantasy Competition.

Collins Cup Fantasy Competition – How To Play

The Collins Cup Fantasy Competition gets underway immediately after the Collins Cup opening ceremony on Wednesday 25 August. It’s here we’ll get to find out which athletes will be pitted against one another in all 12 of the race matchups – as well as getting a chance to see all the stars resplendent in their new race kit.

Once those all-important matchups have been decided in the Captain’s Match Draft Draw, the game is afoot! All you need to do is pick who you think will finish first, second and third in every matchup. 

First place athletes are worth 300 points, second 200 points and third 100 points. There are also bonus points for the first two athletes across the line based on the time gap to their competitors.

For each correct guess, you’ll be awarded that athlete’s points. So, if you correctly predict a trifecta the points will really rack up in your favour! The more points you have at the end of the day, the higher you’ll be ranked – but can you make it into the top 10 to earn a prize?

Like the previous tri fantasy games, success at the Collins Cup Fantasy Competition will take all your athlete knowledge and a big slice of luck. While we can’t help with the latter, now is the time to brush up on everything you need to know about all the Collins Cup athletes through our PTO Stats site. 

You’ll find a treasure trove of historical data and recent results as well as being able to view how athletes have fared against one another in the past using the Head-To-Head feature. So, jump in and take a deep dive into the stats to perfect your predictions.

The Collins Cup coverage gets underway at 12:30 CEST on Saturday. You can catch every second through live broadcasts in over 100 countries as well as on the Collins Cup website or the newly launched Collins Cup iOS/Android app. Head over to the Collins Cup broadcast information page to find out where to watch in your region.

The post The Collins Cup Fantasy Competition appeared first on PTO.

With the likes of Lionel Sanders and Paula Findlay, Team Internationals have some of the world’s best – and best-known – triathletes. But they’ve also got the advantage of others who’ve flown under the radar during the pandemic who will be ready to strike at the Collins Cup.

A surfeit of quality athletes from which to choose has meant the Captains Picks have only added to the strength in depth for Team Internationals. Meanwhile, the Team Captains themselves – Lisa Bentley and Simon Whitfield – lend the team both long- and short-course tactical expertise.

Captains: Lisa Bentley, Simon Whitfield

Team Internationals Women

1. Teresa Adam (PTO #2)
2. Paula Findlay (PTO #6)
3. Carrie Lester (PTO #8)
4. Jeanni Metzler (PTO #11)
5. Sarah Crowley (PTO #13)
6. Ellie Salthouse (PTO #16)

Teresa Adam has been hunkered in New Zealand during Covid but has still put in some incredible performances throughout the Collins Cup qualification period. The Kiwi scored big points at three IM races over 2019 and 2020 and the Port of Tauranga Half this year. A great swimmer and superb biker, her run is the unknown for her competitors.

Paula Findlay made a big name for herself by winning the PTO 2020 Championships at Challenge Daytona last December. The Canadian followed that up with seventh at Challenge Miami and a gutsy never-say-die performance for fourth at 70.3 St. George. She’s just come good after a running injury but if she’s back to her best, she’s one of the strongest all-rounders in the business.

Carrie Lester secured her Collins Cup place thanks to three Ironman wins in 2019 and a sensationally fast sub-nine victory at IM Coeur d’Alene in June. The Aussie is a great swimmer and runner but a real powerhouse on the bike, which is sure to feature in the tactics of the Team Captains.

South Africa’s Jeanni Metzler has had a fantastic 2021 season, seeking out races against the best and coming away with second at 70.3 Texas and St. George and third at 70.3 Boulder. Each time she’s unleashed a ferocious run pace that’ll worry any of her potential matchups at the Collins Cup.

Sarah Crowley has twice finished third in Kona and was also the 2017 World Triathlon Long Distance champion, underlining her credentials to race with aplomb when it really counts. By her exceptionally high standards, Crowley didn’t shine quite as brightly at the start of 2021. However, first at 70.3 Ecuador in July signalled the Australian is on the way back to her best and was enough for her to gain a Captains Pick slot.

Ellie Salthouse comes into the Collins Cup unbeaten in 2021 over six middle-distance races including 70.3 Geelong and, most recently, 70.3 Andorra. The team’s third Aussie is certainly one of the form athletes of the season and given the Collins Cup’s 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run format, she could well be the strongest of the women’s competitors.

Team Internationals Men

1. Lionel Sanders (PTO #2)
2. Braden Currie (PTO #6)
3. Sam Appleton (PTO #15)
4. Max Neumann (PTO #17)
5. Kyle Smith (PTO #27)
6. Jackson Laundry (PTO #26)

The Team Internationals men are headed by Lionel Sanders. Undoubtedly one of the world’s best 70.3 athletes and a true fighter, Sanders has a second at Challenge Miami and wins at 70.3 Texas and St. George this season – both against highly competitive fields. He also set a new iron-distance PB at the Tri Battle Royale and backed that up with second at IM Copenhagen last weekend. A middle-distance ace, while he might lose time in the swim, he’s got the bike-run to have the others running scared. Plus, he’s won twice in Samorin previously at Challenge The Championship.

Winner of his native IM New Zealand this year, Braden Currie is a supremely consistent athlete who’s truly talented across all three disciplines. Outside of his top-10 showings at the 70.3 worlds and Kona, he’s not finished off the podium since late 2017. While he’s yet to face an international field in 2021, he’s got the full swim-bike-run package to go toe-to-toe with the best the other teams can muster.

Sam Appleton is a middle-distance specialist with a stacked resume of 15 wins and 25 podiums. Sixth at the PTO 2020 Championships last December, this swim-bike monster races from the front but also has the goods on the run to close it out for the win. His second at 70.3 Boulder recently shows he’s in great form and the Collins Cup format should suit his swimming strengths.

Max Neumann goes into the Collins Cup after wins at Challenge Shepparton and IM Cairns this year, successfully defending his title from 2020 at the latter. Another of the young no-weaknesses breed, the Australian has it where it counts in each discipline but is an incredible swimmer who’s likely to make time on his competitors. The biggest question mark is that he’s not raced outside of Australia over the last two years, so we’ll have to wait to see if that’s to his advantage or disadvantage come the matchup.

The first Captains Pick athlete for Team Internationals is rising 70.3 star, Kyle Smith. The 23-year-old Kiwi won his first five middle-distance events before showing serious grit to take third at his first full at IM New Zealand in March. Another sensational swimmer, Smith led from the water at the 70.3 Euro champs in Elsinore where he also had the fastest bike split before fading towards the end of the run to fifth. With that swim-bike strength and a shorter 18km run at the Collins Cup, he could well solo to victory.

Jackson Laundry has made his desire to represent Team Internationals clear over the qualifying period but it’s his rising form in 2021 that surely caught the Captains’ eyes. The Canadian took third at 70.3 Des Moines, second at Rev3 Williamsburg and first at 70.3 Ecuador. He might not match the very fastest for swim speed but his quality bike-run package makes him a strong pick.

With some of the world’s classiest athletes and a diverse range of swim, bike and run strength, Team Internationals have the talent to score big points in Samorin.

We’ll get to see which athletes will be pitted against each other at the Match Draft Draw, part of the opening ceremony on Wednesday 25 August at 18:00 CEST.

The post Team Internationals Guide: The Collins Cup appeared first on PTO.

Team US has been labelled as the underdog in the run-up to the first-ever Collins Cup event. But with a line-up of mentally and physically strong athletes who are highly motivated to take the Collins Cup trophy for triathlon’s founding nation, they shouldn’t be counted out.

In fact, with the Captains Picks adding two Olympic medallists to the women’s side of the team, their chances of causing an upset have jumped up drastically. Here’s the lowdown on the full team and why the Stars-and-Stripes are serious contenders for the Collins Cup.

Captains: Karen Smyers, Mark Allen

Team US Women

1. Skye Moench (PTO #10)
2. Jackie Hering (PTO #15)
3. Chelsea Sodaro (PTO #22)
4. Jocelyn McCauley (PTO #41)
5. Katie Zaferes
6. Taylor Knibb (PTO #90)

Skye Moench has cemented her place as the USA number one thanks to a string of powerful performances including the win at 70.3 Texas in April and third at Ironman Tulsa in May. Moench also showed off her solid swim, superb bike and strong run as the top Stars-and-Stripes finisher at 70.3 St. George, coming fifth in a championship-quality field. While she’s an Ironman star, fifth at the shorter distance Challenge Miami also bodes well for the Collins Cup.

With her great swim and bike rankings plus a sensational run that’s up there with the best, Jackie Hering is a quality athlete across the board. This year she’s had some great performances including third at both Challenge Miami and 70.3 Des Moines as well as two more 70.3 top-10 finishes. If Hering brings her freshest running legs to the Collins Cup, she could certainly pull in the points for Team US.

Chelsea Sodaro (PTO #22) returned from maternity leave to come sixth at 70.3 Boulder on the final weekend of Collins Cup qualification races, giving her enough points to squeeze into the fourth position for the US – fulfilling the dream laid out in her Greater Than One video series. Before that, her 2019 season features three 70.3 wins and as a strong athlete in all three disciplines, this super-mom could show up her rivals.

Jocelyn McCauley was drafted into the team after original qualifier Heather Jackson pulled out of the race for personal reasons. McCauley’s a strong replacement, however, having returned from maternity leave to take second place at IM Finland. Already back to fine form on the swim and bike, if she can sharpen her run just a little, she could be a real asset to Team US in Samorin.

For both the Captains Picks, Karen Smyers and Mark Allen have gone straight to the top. Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze medallist Katie Zaferes, who also took Silver in the Mixed Relay event, is their first choice. What a choice it is. One of the best in the business, the 2019 World Triathlon Champion is a front-pack swimmer, breakaway biker and stellar runner. While this is a longer distance than she’s previously competed at, there won’t be many from the other teams who can match her.

The second pick is fellow Olympian athlete Taylor Knibb, who was also part of that Silver-winning relay team in Japan. After quickly making a name for herself as a sensational swimmer and the strongest cyclist on the World Triathlon circuit, Knibb stepped up to middle distance for the first time at 70.3 Boulder earlier this month. Finishing in second, she rode just 26-seconds slower than winner Pallant-Browne despite being on a road bike. 

Team US Men

1. Sam Long (PTO #4)
2. Rudy Von Berg (PTO #8)
3. Matt Hanson (PTO #9)
4. Ben Kanute (PTO #11)
5. Justin Metzler (PTO #44)
6. Andrew Starykowicz (PTO #33)

On the men’s side, Sam Long leads the pack. He’s in stellar form after victories at IM Coeur d’Alene and 70.3 Boulder and we’ve also seen how deep he can push in a head-to-head battle when he went to the line against Lionel Sanders at 70.3 St. George. One of the sport’s fastest bike-runners – and still far from his potential at just 25 years old – Long could do serious damage to his competitors in Samorin.

Like Long, Rudy Von Berg scored a victory earlier this month by taking the tape at 70.3 Switzerland. A fantastic athlete in all three disciplines, Von Berg is a picture of consistency having been in the top five for all but one of his last 25 races – 10 of which were wins. With no weaknesses, he’ll be a contender no matter the matchup.

Through the 2020-2021 season Matt Hanson has proven himself as the sport’s best middle-distance runner, taking the fastest splits at five out of the last six events he’s raced – including the PTO 2020 Championships in Daytona, where he came second. He’s got a good swim and a fast bike too, so if he hits T2 at the same time as his opponents, he’s odds-on for victory at the Collins Cup.

Ben Kanute is without doubt one of the sport’s most versatile athletes. Able to race hard and fast over a plethora of distances, Kanute is a highly accomplished all-rounder with a weapon swim that’s seen him take third at Challenge Miami, second at 70.3 Texas and first at Escape From Alcatraz in 2021. That win – his fourth at the iconic event – came on 15 August, showing he’s in fine form.

Another strong all-rounder, Captains Pick recipient Justin Metzler is a classy athlete who’s been racing well this season with three top-10 results including second at IM Coeur d’Alene and fifth at 70.3 Boulder. To add a little familial drama to the Collins Cup, Justin’s wife, Jeanni Metzler, is racing for Team Internationals, which could cause sparks to fly in race week!

The captains’ other pick, Chris Leiferman, has had to forego his slot due to injury, which has paved the way for alternate Andrew Starykowicz to be called up. A strong swimmer and the uber-biker’s uber-biker, Starykowicz took first at Rev3 Williamsburg earlier this year and is a tactical pick if ever the was one. A player of mind games and speaker of frank views, Starykowicz will bring as much in the way of controversial asides as his pure cycling power.

With a ton of talent across the team and two seriously decorated Captains calling the shots, the right matchups could see the US top the points table in Samorin. 

We’ll get to see which athletes will be pitted against each other at the Match Draft Draw, part of the opening ceremony on Wednesday 25 August at 18:00 CEST.

The post Team US Guide: The Collins Cup appeared first on PTO.

For those on the cusp of hitting the top four – and automatic qualification – time is running out with just a few races left through which to score points. Meanwhile, those who are already in the auto qualification zone need to remain cognizant of any upcoming races that could threaten their spot.

The latest update to the standings on 28 June has seen key changes for Team Internationals’ auto-qualified female athletes. Events around the world have affected the top 10 for Team Europe and Team US too, with performances that are sure to catch the attention of the Collins Cup captains.

Team Internationals

The stage looked set for the Team Internationals standings, but after a sensational performance at IM Coeur d’Alene on 27 June, Australia’s Carrie Lester shot up the rankings from eighth to third. Her 8:54:50 finish was faster than the Average Ideal Time (AIT) set for the race, giving her 102.30 points – the third-highest tally of any female athlete in 2021.

Lester’s success meant a drop down the rankings for other athletes with Jeanni Metzler now in the danger zone as Team Europe #4. Sarah Crowley, who’s struggled to find a big performance so far in 2021, is now out of automatic qualification in fifth. With Metzler, Crowley and Team Europe #6 Ellie Salthouse all within a few points, that fourth slot is sure from assured.

Team US

IM Coeur d’Alene was a great race for the Linsey Corbin, too. The US athlete finished third to jump up eight spots in the rankings to sit in Team US #5, within just a few points of Team US #4 Sophie Watts. Haley Chura, fourth in Coeur d’Alene, also moved up three places to Team US #9.

The bigger story for the US women could come from ‘In The Hunt’ athletes Jocelyn McCauley and Chelsea Sodaro. Both athletes accrued big points before maternity leave and are now back in training, so if either finishes a race, they’ll jump straight into slots two and three respectively, bumping everyone but Team US #1 Skye Moench down the rankings.

McCauley has announced her intention to race 70.3 Boulder on 7 August. Meanwhile Sodaro – the subject of the Greater Than One video series – hasn’t yet announced her goal race, but is full training, looking strong and determined to get to the Collins Cup.

Team Europe

Unlike the other teams, Team Europe has seen changes in both the men’s and women’s standings. After his IM 70.3 European Championship win in Elsinore, George Goodwin has moved up one place from seventh to sixth.

However, what could be more important is how he won. The Brit made up for a slightly slower swim with the day’s second-best bike split then stormed the run – completing the half marathon in a staggering 1:08:30, the third-fastest of all men’s splits this year. That championship-winning performance will have no doubt piqued the interest of Team Europe captain Normann Stadler.

On the women’s side, Nicola Spirig and Fenella Langridge are on the march up the rankings. Spirig continues to show dominant middle-distance form ahead of her fifth Olympic Games, her win at Challenge Walchsee combining the second-fastest swim, fastest bike and second fastest run to out-perform Team Europe #2 Anne Haug. The result is a four-place improvement, now putting her as Team Europe #7.

Meanwhile, back at Coeur d’Alene, Fenella Langridge showed she’s one to watch with second place on debut amidst 40°C heat. Her performance earned 96.11 points, moving her up seven places to Team Europe #8.

Races Before Collins Cup Qualification Cut-off

The qualification period for the first-ever Collins Cup ends on 9 August, so there are precious few races left to move up the rankings or defend places. Here are the events to look out for.

• Outlaw Half Holkham – 4 July
• IM UK – 4 July
• 70.3 Les Sables – 4 July
• 70.3 Andorra – 4 July
• 70.3 Ecuador – 11 July
• Challenge Moscow – 18 July
• IM Lake Placid – 25 July
• 70.3 Boulder – 7 August
• 70.3 Tallinn – 8 August
• 70.3 Gdynia – 8 August

The post Collins Cup Ranking Update: 2nd July appeared first on PTO.

With her eyes set on qualifying for The Collins Cup on 28th August 2021 Chelsea is undertaking progressively increasing training load whilst still evolving as a parent.

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Sam Long and Mark Allen talk about that battle with Lionel Sanders, getting a chance to battle him and Jan Frodeno at The Collins Cup this summer, and how Team USA can battle their way from underdogs to victors…

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The landmark event, scheduled to take place in August in the Slovakian town of Šamorín, pits 36 of the world’s greatest endurance athletes in a competition like no other.

Twelve individual races, pitting members of Team Europe, Team Internationals and Team USA, will see the sport’s best face off in mouthwatering head-to-head-to-head showdowns.

Alexander going ‘Full Monty’ on Collins Cup

Craig has had the opportunity to run the rule over several Team Internationals hopefuls as preparations begin for the Collins Cup.

“The Collins Cup just seemed to me like it was unique for us,” the three-time IRONMAN World Champion explained.

“I thought, you know, that’s interesting. I always used to like to watch some of those team tournaments. I’d watch the Davis Cup in Tennis because I just found that element of team and the tactics and the dynamics quite interesting.”

So, when the Australian stalwart heard about the idea to run a ‘Ryder Cup’-style event in the sport he’s competed in for a number of decades, he was eager to get involved.

“The PTO then asked me if I’d be interested in being team captain, and they said they wanted some big names. They’d approached Mark Allen, Karen Smyers, Chrissie Wellington, Normann Stadler, Erin Baker, Simon Whitfield and Lisa Bentley.

“Really great people but also big names in our sport. I was serious about going the ‘Full Monty’, so to speak when it came to the Collins Cup.”

Ruling the roost down under

Alexander is taking his role as Team Internationals Captain very seriously, and he has been looking very closely at recent events Down Under.

Craig had a front-row seat as several Team Internationals candidates did battle at the PTO-supported Big Husky Triathlon in Huskisson in early March.

The 47-year-old was part of the commentary team as the PTO produced live coverage of one of Australia’s iconic triathlons for the first time.

One of the biggest battles of the afternoon was between two women on the periphery of automatic selection – Ellie Salthouse and Amelia Watkinson.

“At Huskisson, I was watching a little battle between Amelia and Ellie, because they’re just on the fringe of the rankings.

“I think part of being a captain is understanding where the athletes are in terms of their training cycle when they race. For example, Amelia had just come out of a two-week quarantine before Huskisson, so her race preparation may have hampered.

“It’s not for me to make excuses for the athletes, and they certainly don’t need me to make excuses for them.

“But I have to come in with that sort of unbiased, unfiltered look and understand from a performance standpoint where the athletes are.”

“As we get closer and closer to August, more and more racing gets scheduled and these athletes build form and build momentum. I must pay attention, because we want to pick the best team we can.”

Tactical selections key

One tantalising aspect of the Collins Cup format is the tactics which can be employed during the event, and that is something Alexander has already given much thought to.

“It’s not going to be the big groups that we tend to get into,” the Australian said as he explained some of the differences between the Collins Cup and an individual triathlon event.

“The dynamic could be a little different, for example It might be harder to hold the feet in the swim with just three athletes in the race.

“You’re really looking at athletes who, for one reason or another, might slide under the radar because that group dynamic doesn’t help them.

“They might be a great swimmer and an unbelievable biker, but not an outstanding runner – they could benefit from a three-individual race,

“You need to take all these things into consideration because it’s not going to be a field of 55 on the start line, which you see in some of the bigger races. It’s going to be three guys or three girls.

“Different racing, different dynamic. I think as a captain, you have to pay attention to those things.

“In the week leading up to the actual event, captains will need to understand their athletes and where they are and their place in the format at that point in time, and chat to them about potential matchups that they’re interested in.

“I think that’s all going to come into play. There is a lot for us as captains to think about.”

No-one is out of the reckoning

One point Alexander was keen to emphasise over the coming months was a very simple one – everybody will be considered for selection.

With a year of disruption and cancellations during 2020, several athletes have spent the last 12 months without significant competitive action.

One such athlete is Jodie Stimpson. The double Commonwealth Games gold medallist returned to action at CHALLENGEMIAMI® after a long absence, and took the race by storm.

She outpaced several PTO World Ranked top 10 triathletes on her way to victory at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and is now a contender to make the Team Europe squad.

Alexander expects further athletes outside the upper echelons of the PTO World Rankings to stake their claims for the Collins Cup in the coming months.

“I don’t want any athlete to think that because they are not a name people have heard of, that they’re not in the reckoning. Everybody is in the reckoning; you have just got to get the runs on the board.

“You know, I noticed Nick Kastelein was back racing in Miami and he is a guy a couple of years ago, he had a fifth or sixth at the 70.3 World Championship, and I know he won an IRONMAN.

“He’s had some injuries, and I know he doesn’t have the world ranking as he hasn’t raced much the last 18 months – there’s a lot of examples.

“We have to be paying attention because although the rankings are excellent, they don’t tell the whole story.

“Any athlete out there, I would just say fire up and get some get some good results, because the captains are watching.”

The post Collins Cup Lowdown: Alexander excited for the big challenge appeared first on PTO.

Thirty-six of the world’s finest stars will head to Slovakia later this year, with 24 earning automatic qualification and a further 12 selected by Team Europe, Team Internationals and Team USA captains.

After a thrilling weekend of action in Dubai and Miami, we’ve picked out they storylines which matter.

Ryf and Frodeno in fine form

The PTO World Ranked #1s were in fantastic form at the weekend, with Daniela Ryf and Jan Frodeno producing eye-catching displays to win in Dubai and Miami respectively.

Swiss sensation Ryf led home a strong field at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai and set a course record in the process. The seven-times world champion blitzed the competition in the UAE to win in 3:56:54.

Her margin of victory over compatriot and PTO #17 Imogen Simmonds was a mammoth 5:08, with Sweden’s Sara Svensk a further 3:15 back in third.

Frodeno, meanwhile, dominated at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on his way to lifting the CHALLENGEMIAMI® title.

The German superstar’s brilliant all-round display was the catalyst for his triumph in Florida – the second fastest swim, the third fastest bike and the third fastest run – showcasing his dominance right now.

Ryf and Frodeno are both in pole position to represent Team Europe at the Collins Cup, and few would want to face off against either in Šamorín. Well, except one person that is…

Frodeno is triathlon’s Tiger Woods

Team Internationals current leading qualifier Lionel Sanders has openly stated he wants to go head-to-head with Frodeno in August, and he got further proof of what that means last weekend.

Frodeno opened a 2:06 gap to his Canadian rival on the swim at CHALLENGEMIAMI®, before extending that lead by a further 0:54 on two wheels.

Sanders did manage to claw some time back on the run, but still finished 2:31 behind the multiple world champion.

“He’s amazing, a one in a generation athlete,” Sanders said, posting his post-race thoughts on his YouTube channel.

“I stayed up on my hydration, I executed well, but unfortunately he is the best guy to ever do it.

“I feel like I’m in the Tiger Woods era, nobody else is winning. Tiger Woods won everything; you aren’t winning no matter how good you are.

“The guy just keeps getting better and better, he just keeps reinventing himself, it’s amazing, and it’s really inspiring – the guy is going to be 40 this year and he is handing us all our asses.

“I’m going to go back, keep working hard, but I don’t know if this guy is beatable.

“But I get better every time I face Jan. If I could race him again in three weeks’ time I would. If I could race Jan every weekend I would, and I will seek that out when we can travel freely.”

Contenders emerging

Several athletes showcased their Collins Cup potential in Dubai and Miami – including two race victors.

Britain’s Jodie Stimpson took the honours at CHALLENGEMIAMI® after a breathtaking 1:00:53 run saw her surge from fourth to eventual glory.

The double Commonwealth Games champion has enjoyed multiple successes on the ITU circuit over Sprint and Olympic distances, but has recently turned her attention to the longer distances.

A second place on debut at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain in 2019, coupled with a 15th-place finish at the PTO 2020 Championship showcased her undoubted potential, which was further highlighted here.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old PTO World #26 Daniel Bækkegård produced an exceptional display to set a course record en route to a superb victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai.

Other names who did their chances no harm last weekend include Europeans Filipe Azevedo and Sara Svensk as well as American Alissa Doehla. They all secured top-six finishes.

Team Europe on fire

Team Internationals captain Craig Alexander recently described the Team Europe line-up as ‘stacked’, and there is zero doubt that comment was backed up by last weekend’s evidence.

All four race winners could line up on Team Europe’s roster come August. Ryf and Frodeno are currently the top qualifiers on the women’s and men’s side respectively, while Bækkegård and Stimpson surged into the reckoning with their victories.

In fact, nine of the 12 podium finishers from Dubai and Miami represent European countries, with only Team Internationals’ Sanders as well as Team USA’s Jackie Hering and Ben Kanute breaking into the top three.

The post Collins Cup Lowdown: Ryf and Frodeno as good as ever appeared first on PTO.

In a stacked field which included PTO World Ranked #18 Amelia Watkinson, Salthouse was out to prove she deserves her place as a part of Team International in Samorin this summer.

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Team Europe, Team Internationals and Team USA will compete for bragging rights as we bring a taste of the Ryder Cup to triathlon.

A total of 12 three-athlete races, taking place over a half-distance course, six for the men and six for the women, will decide which region will take home the inaugural Collins Cup.

Four men and four women will qualify automatically for each team based on the Collins Cup qualification protocol, with team captains then having the task of filling the final four spots on their rosters with captain’s picks.

As the 2021 season gets until full swing, we take a look at the athletes who currently occupy those coveted automatic spots, and those who are currently on the outside looking in.

Team Europe: Current Automatic Qualifiers

Men: Jan Frodeno (1), Alistair Brownlee (2), Gustav Iden (3) Sebastian Kienle (4)
Women: Daniela Ryf (1), Lucy Charles-Barclay (2), Anne Haug (5), Holly Lawrence (6)

In the mix

Men: Joe Skipper (7), George Goodwin (15), Pieter Heemeryck (17), Andreas Dreitz (18), Pablo Dapena Gonzalez (19)
Women: Daniela Bleymehl (14), Radka Kahlefeldt (15), Laura Philipp (16), Imogen Simmonds (17), Katrina Matthews (19)

As Team Internationals captain Craig Alexander put it recently, Team Europe is “stacked”.

Both current PTO World Ranked #1s Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf are set to headline a star-studded cast.

German great Frodeno makes his seasonal debut on March 12 at CHALLENGEMIAMI, while Swiss superstar Ryf will be in action the same weekend at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai.

Two-time Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee, PTO 2020 Championship victor Gustav Iden and modern-day great Sebastien Kienle currently fill the remaining automatic qualification spots for the men.

Ryf is joined by Lucy Charles-Barclay, Anne Haug and Holly Lawrence in the automatic qualification spots on the women’s roster, as things stand.

The leading four women currently have a 15-point ranking lead on fifth-placed Daniela Bleymehl, who is closely followed by Radka Kahlefeldt, Laura Philipp, Imogen Simmonds and Katrina Matthews. Simmonds will hope to boost her chances when she takes on Ryf in Dubai in March.

Meanwhile, Joe Skipper sits just three points outside of automatic qualification and has the opportunity to improve his points tally at IRONMAN Dubai 70.3 in March – as does Pieter Heemeryck.

Andreas Dreitz and Pablo Dapena Gonzalez are also in contention for an automatic berth, and both are set to line up at CHALLENGEMIAMI.

Team Internationals: Current Automatic Qualifiers

Men: Lionel Sanders (5), Cameron Wurf (10), Braden Currie (11), Tyler Butterfield (12)
Women: Teresa Adam (3), Sarah Crowley (4), Carrie Lester (7), Paula Findlay (8)

In the mix

Men: Sam Appleton (16), Cody Beals (21), Mike Phillips (25), Josh Amberger (30), Tim Reed (31)
Women: Amelia Watkinson (18), Ellie Salthouse (21), Jeanni Seymour (26), Mirinda Carfrae (27), Hannah Wells (29)

Canada’s Lionel Sanders and New Zealand’s Teresa Adam are the leading qualifiers for Team Internationals as things stand. Sanders is due to open his 2021 campaign at CHALLENGEMIAMI while Adam already has a victory under her belt this season at the 2021 Tauranga Half.

The women’s roster right now includes PTO 2020 Championship winner Paula Findlay, with Australian duo Carrie Lester and Sarah Crowley set to join her in Miami in March for what is expected to be a spectacular race.

Bermudan Tyler Butterfield will compete with Sanders at CHALLENGEMIAMI on the men’s side, while perennial half-distance race-winner Braden Currie will race at IRONMAN New Zealand in late-March.

Australian Cameron Wurf currently holds the other automatic spot, but has yet to appear in 2021.

On the women’s side, two athletes have started the 2021 season in fantastic form – Australian Ellie Salthouse and New Zealander Hannah Wells. Wells has claimed three victories over the New Zealand summer, including a defeat of Adam at Rotorua Suffer Half.

Salthouse meanwhile, has beaten all-comers on the Australian circuit in the last few months. She prevailed at ‘Hell of the West’ and the PTO-supported Big Husky Triathlon (defeating another Collins Cup hopeful in Amelia Watkinson).

Tim Reed should also receive a crucial points boost from his second-place finish at the Big Husky race, and one other athlete who has work to do to earn a spot at the event is New Zealand’s Kyle Smith (33). Few would bet against him though after consecutive victories at Rotorua Suffer, Tauranga Half and CHALLENGEWANAKA.

Team USA: Current Automatic Qualifiers

Men: Ben Hoffman (6), Rudy Von Berg (8), Matt Hanson (9), Tim O’Donnell (13)
Women: Skye Moench (9), Jocelyn McCauley (10), Chelsea Sodaro (11), Sarah Piampiano (12)

In the mix

Men: Chris Leiferman (14), Sam Long (24), Andrew Starykowicz (34), Matthew Russell (45), Ben Kanute (47)
Women: Heather Jackson (13), Jackie Hering (20), Meredith Kessler (25), Linsey Corbin (32), Lesley Smith (34)

The majority of the potential US roster will make their first appearances of the 2021 season at CHALLENGEMIAMI on March 12.

As it stands, Ben Hoffman and Skye Moench are the leading qualifiers for Team US and both will be hoping to solidify their spots in the team with a big performances in South Florida.

Hoffman, Rudy Von Berg, Matt Hanson and Tim O’Donnell currently hold the automatic qualification spots on the men’s side. All four will be on the start line on March 12.

They will be joined among others by Chris Leiferman, Andrew Starykowicz, and Ben Kanute, who are currently on the bubble.

On the women’s side only Moench of the top four will race in Florida, leaving the door open for those on the bubble to earn crucial qualification points. Heather Jackson, Jackie Hering, Meredith Kessler and Lesley Smith will all line up alongside the #9 PTO World-Ranked Moench.

Jocelyn McCauley, Chelsea Sodaro and Sarah Piampiano are the current incumbents for the women’s US automatic spots. All three are currently on maternity leave from the sport, with Piampiano welcoming her baby son Harrison into the world earlier this week.

Upcoming Events

IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai – March 12

Men: Pieter Heemeryck, Joe Skipper

Women: Daniela Ryf, Imogen Simmons

CHALLENGEMIAMI – March 12

Men: Jan Frodeno, Lionel Sanders, Ben Hoffman, Rudy Von Berg, Matt Hanson, Tim O’Donnell, Tyler Butterfield, Chris Leiferman, Sam Appleton, Andreas Dreitz, Pablo Dapena Gonzalez, Andre Starykowicz, Ben Kanute.

Women: Lucy Charles-Barclay, Sarah Crowley, Anne Haug, Carrie Lester, Paula Findlay, Sky Moench, Heather Jackson, Jackie Hering, Meredith Kessler, Lesley Smith

IRONMAN New Zealand – March 27

Men: Mike Phillips, Braden Currie, Kyle Smith

Women: Hannah Wells

IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong – March 28

Men: Josh Amberger, Tim Reed

Women: Amelia Watkinson, Ellie Salthouse

• Current PTO World Ranking of each athlete in brackets.

The post Collins Cup Lowdown: The road to Šamorín appeared first on PTO.

The Australian triathlon legend was a very interested part of the commentary team as several possible qualifiers for the landmark 2021 event took part in last weekend’s PTO-supported Big Husky Triathlon.

The race saw PTO World-Ranked #21 Ellie Salthouse and #18 Amelia Watkinson square off in the women’s race. Both currently sit just outside the automatic qualification spots for Alexander’s team.

Salthouse dominated the race from start to finish, recording the fastest swim, bike and run splits of the day. That gave Craig plenty of food for thought as he ponders the difficult decisions which loom ahead.

“From my perspective, as one of the team captains for the Collins Cup, it was an interesting race for me today because Ellie (Salthouse) and Amelia (Watkinson) are two of the girls in the mix for automatic qualification or the captain’s pick,” Alexander said.

“Amelia and Ellie went head-to-head today, it’s not ultimately going to be what you make your decision on, you base your selections on a series of things. But all these races mean something in the greater scheme of the Collins Cup.”

Should Ellie or Amelia fail to earn automatic qualification, their performances at Big Husky could still have them in Alexander’s thoughts for the two women’s captain’s picks.

He insisted those picks would not be entirely based on ranking points and PTO Ranking position, and that Team Internationals will consider all elite triathletes.

“We get to choose from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and, with the captains picks it’s not always off the world rankings. If someone from the ITU is in great form and puts their hand up to race, we have the option to pick them.”

‘Europe the team to beat’

The Ryder Cup-style event will see Team Europe, Team USA and Team Internationals fight it out for ultimate triathlon supremacy.

“Each team will have 12 athletes, four males and four females that will qualify automatically and then two men and two women are captain’s picks,” Alexander explained.

“It’s a unique racing format over the middle distance, but it is a match race so one athlete from each team go head-to-head-to-head. So, there are 12 individual races going on, 10 minutes apart.

“So, there’s some tactics and some race dynamics and it’s scored similar to the Ryder Cup. It’s a team competition.”

With the top four men’s and women’s selections determined by the Collins Cup qualification protocol, Alexander already has an idea of who will be in contention for the event. He sees Europe as the team to beat right now.

“The Europe team is very strong, Daniela Ryf, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Anne Haug, Holly Lawrence. On paper that is an unbelievable team, and for the men they have the top four PTO-Ranked triathletes in Jan Frodeno, Alistair Brownlee, Gustav Iden and Sebastian Kienle.

“It’s hard to gauge form right now with very few races taking place, but on paper that European team Is absolutely stacked, but we don’t do the races on paper.”

Sanders vs Frodeno?

With 36 of the world’s best triathletes racing in the event, each individual matchup is vital for team success.

The decisions facing Craig and other team captains around who races who during the eagerly-awaited event provide another exciting sub-plot.

“I’m most interested to sees these make up of these individual match races.

“Say Team Europe have the first pick in an individual race and they select Jan (Frodeno), it is then up to Team International and Team USA to choose who goes against him.

“There is definitely some strategy there and the race dynamic is going to be different from anything we have seen.”

The decision on who does face PTO World-Ranked #1 Frodeno might just be the easiest decision Alexander has to make, as one man has already put his hand up for that daunting task.

PTO World-Ranked #5 Lionel Sanders has already e-mailed the Internationals captains, suggesting he takes on the toughest of all gigs.

“I thought the matchups had already been determined and I was so p****d off that I didn’t get Jan,” Sanders said of the PTO’s recent top rivalries video. His wife Erin showed him a mock line-up of the Collins Cup individual matchups, and he thought they were the real thing.

“I messaged my team captain, I said I need to get a jump start on this. I messaged Lisa (Bentley) and said if you give me Jan I will give you the performance of the entire competition.

“No-one on this team wants to beat Jan more than I do. I’ll either beat him or go home on a stretcher.”

Alexander joked about the request: “We (the captains) got an e-mail from Lionel saying he wants to race the best athlete from the other team, and obviously the best athlete in the world at the moment is Jan.

“Lionel has put up his hand to race Jan. Be careful what you wish for sometimes.”

The post Alexander: Husky stars in the mix for Collins Cup appeared first on PTO.

The best triathletes on the planet, led by the PTO World #1 ranked man and woman Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf, will now be looking to seize the spoils at Samorin.

The likes of Alistair Brownlee, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Lionel Sanders and Heather Jackson, as well as PTO 2020 Championship victors Gustav Iden and Paula Findlay, will also be hoping to join the battle as Teams USA, Europe and Internationals start to take shape.

The event will take place at the x-bionic® sphere, a world-class purpose-built sporting complex in Šamorín, which is a 50 minute drive from Vienna. The weekend will be an all-inclusive festival-like celebration of the sport of triathlon.

Collins Cup format

The race itself will be a middle-distance non-drafting event.

The event will consist of three teams – USA, Europe and Internationals. Each team will be made up of 12 PTO professionals (six men and six women).

Eight athletes, four men and four women, will earn a place on their respective teams by way of automatic qualification determined by using the PTO World Rankings.

The remaining four athletes, two men and two women, will be designated as “Captain’s Picks”, and will be selected by a committee of non-athlete members of the PTO Board, in consultation with the Team Captains.

An athlete from each of Team USA, Europe and the Internationals will battle against one another in an individual race of three, so there will be 12 separate race matches, each staggered 10 minutes apart.

The day before the race, the Team Captains will select their individual race match-ups via a draft mechanism.

For Match No.1, USA will first designate an athlete, then Europe will name an athlete, and finally the Internationals will name an athlete. For Match No.2, Europe will select first, then the Internationals, then the USA. For Match No.3, The Internationals will select first, then USA, then Europe. This process will be repeated until all 12 Race Matches are set.

Collins Cup Origin

The Collins Cup is inspired by, and named after, Judy and John Collins, who 40 years ago were instrumental in establishing the sport of triathlon. They did so by inaugurating a long-distance event on the idyllic shores of Hawaii, where they were stationed while John was a Commander in the US Navy.

Inspired by their recent experience in short-course triathlon in California, they designed a long-distance, around-the-island event in Hawaii, by adding a long bicycle leg to existing swimming and running events. The winner was to be considered the best all-round athlete.

Since that day, triathletes – male and female – have established themselves as some of the greatest athletes on the planet. From its earliest days, triathlon has included men and women racing the same distance, over the same course, on the same day, for equal prize money.

This is an important principle of the Collins Cup and it is the cornerstone of the philosophy of the Professional Triathletes Organisation.

The post 2021 Collins Cup rescheduled for August 28 in Šamorín appeared first on PTO.