7 September 2022

London:

Now confirmed to race in the $1 million PTO US Open, Olympic Champion Flora Duffy calls on amateur age-group athletes to join her at the inaugural event in Dallas on 17-18 September.

While recently announced as a competitor for the PTO US Open women’s pro race, where she will go head-to-head against 14 of the world’s top 25 athletes in the PTO World Rankings, Flora Duffy highlighted the unique age-group experience the PTO Tour provides by giving amateurs the chance to rub shoulders with the pros and race on the same streets. 

Speaking about the opportunity, 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. 

Visit the PTO US Open page for more details on the age-group events in Dallas. 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 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.

As well as the addition of the women’s field’s top seed – Kat Matthews (PTO World #4) and Olympic Champion Flora Duffy, the US contingent will be up against a stellar line-up of other international stars including: PTO Canadian Open winner and runner-up Ashleigh Gentle (AUS, PTO World #6) and Paula Finlay (CAN, PTO World #9); Team Europe Collins Cup winner Holly Lawrence (GBR, PTO World #11); and the resurgent Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR, PTO World #5). View the full PTO US Open women’s 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/

-ends-

For further information 

Professional Triathletes Organisation

Anthony Scammell E: [email protected]

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.