7 July

London: 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 Canadian Open (23-24 July), as the countdown continues to the first-ever PTO Tour.

It includes one of the greatest triathletes of all time and PTO World #14, Nicola Spirig.

Despite announcing that she will retire from professional triathlon at the end of the 2022 season, the five-time Olympian is still looking to go out on a high.

“After my exciting SUB8 project in Dresden, I am now looking forward to tackle the second half of the year. In my final year as an active triathlete, I am very excited to be competing at the PTO Canadian Open in Edmonton for the first time,” said Spirig.

The women’s field now features 18 of the world’s top 25 PTO World Ranked female triathletes – one of the strongest line-ups of the season so far. The list of additional athletes to confirm their places on the start line for Edmonton includes:

Women: Nicola Spirig (SWI), Sophie Watts (USA), Vittoria Lopes (BRA), Radka Kahlefeldt (CZE), Rach McBride (CAN), Grace Thek (AUS), Penny Slater (AUS) and India Lee (GBR).

Men: Henri Schoeman (RSA), Matt McElroy (USA), Andre Lopes (USA/BRA), Kyle Buckingham (RSA), Max Newmann (AUS), Brent McMahon (CAN), Reinaldo Colucci (BRA), Steve McKenna (AUS), Pieter Heemeryck (BEL), Matt Sharpe (CAN) and Youri Keulen (NED).

View the full PTO Canadian Open women’s start list and men’s line-up.

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For further information 

Professional Triathletes Organisation

Anthony Scammell E: [email protected]

About the PTO Tour

The PTO is a new body co-owned by the professional athletes, seeking to take the sport to the next level and see it grow and thrive. 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), 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.