Olympic Champion Duffy Highlights Unique Opportunity for Amateurs To ‘Race and Watch’ At The PTO US Open

September 7, 2022

Limited slots remaining in Dallas for Age-Groupers to Race Pro Course

Weds 7 September, London /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ –  The Professional Triathletes Organisation has announced a second group of professional triathletes who will compete in the women’s and men’s races at the inaugural $1 million PTO US Open (17-18 September), including Olympic Champion Flora Duffy.

But whilst Bermuda’s finest will go head-to-head against 14 of the world’s top 25 athletes in the PTO World Rankings in the professional women’s race, she highlighted the unique age-group experience the PTO Tour provides, by giving amateurs the opportunity to rub shoulders with the pros and race and watch on the same course.

Speaking about the age-grouper opportunity, which only has limited slots remaining in Dallas, Flora Duffy said:

“The PTO US Open in Dallas is the second step in a new era for triathlon. I’m thrilled to be competing in my first Open. The schedule allows age-groupers to both compete at the 100km distance, and then kick back and spectate the multi-lap-course battled by some of our sports’ best, for an incredible prize purse. The racing, and the Dallas temps, will both be feisty! You won’t want to miss it.”

The 2022 PTO US Open brings the PTO Tour to Texas for the first time, giving age-groupers the chance to be part of triathlon event history by enjoying the chance to test themselves over the new 100km or 25km distances and the opportunity to be inspired by up-close access to the pro races.

Run in partnership with USA Triathlon, participants will have the benefit of race organisation from a team of local experts backed by the PTO’s dedication to exceptional event experiences, with everything from the race pack to the finish line fit for the world’s best athletes.  For more details visit: https://protriathletes.org/events/pto-tour/us-open/  Registration closes at midnight on Monday 12 September.

“This is an event for sporting fans, pros and amateur participants alike,” explained PTO Athlete Board member, Tim O’Donnell, himself a professional triathlete who won the 2009 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships.

“Few major sporting occasions around the globe offer a chance for amateurs to compete beside the best athletes in the world. You can watch tennis stars compete at the US Open tennis but you can’t get on the court at Flushing Meadows beside them! We believe that personal connection and opportunity is something unique to the sport of triathlon and we want our age groupers to really feel part of the event, not just be at it.”

This year, the 2022 USA Triathlon Club National Championships will be run as part of the PTO US Open age-group event, with athletes wishing to be part of the club championships simply selecting their club during the registration process and giving themselves the opportunity to earn points for their local club.

The full PTO US Open men’s line-up for Dallas can be found here and includes PTO World #3 Magnus Ditlev (DEN), #4 Lionel Sanders (CAN), #5 Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and #6 Daniel Baekkegard (DEN).

In the women’s race there is a strong contingent of American female triathletes, led by PTO World #7 Taylor Knibb and supported by #15 Jackie Hering, #18 Jocelyn McCauley, #23 Sophie Watts, #37 Danielle Lewis and #56 Lesley Smith.  They will be up against a stellar line-up of international stars including: PTO Canadian Open winner and runner up Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) and Paula Finlay (CAN); Team Europe Collins Cup winners Kat Matthews and Holly Lawrence (GBR). Plus the resurgent Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR). Full start list here.

Media wanting to accredit for the PTO US Open should visit https://protriathletes.org/media-accreditation/

For details of where to watch both races live, visit: https://protriathletes.org/events/how-to-watch/

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For further information 

Professional Triathletes Organisation

Anthony Scammell E: Anthony.Scammell@protriathletes.org

About the PTO 

The PTO is a new body co-owned by the professional athletes, seeking to professionalize and grow the sport. The inaugural PTO Tour race schedule for 2022 includes: the first-ever PTO Canadian Open (July 23-24); the second edition of $1.5M Ryder Cup-style Collins Cup (August 20-21), which sees Team Europe take on Team USA and Team International; and the first PTO US Open (September 17-18). Each Open carries a minimum prize money of $1M and will be raced over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run). In 2023 and 2024, the PTO Tour plans to expand with the PTO European Open and the PTO Asian Open, alongside their US and Canadian equivalents and the Collins Cup.