27 June

London: Edmonton-born Paula Findlay will race the world’s best triathletes on the course she grew up on, as the Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced a stellar line-up for the women’s race at the first-ever $1 million PTO Canadian Open (23-24 July).

The field, which features 17 of the world’s top 25 PTO World Ranked female triathletes, is one of the strongest line-ups of the season so far. But it is difficult to look past Findlay, who grew up a couple of miles away from Hawrelak Park and won the Canadian Road Championships there over the weekend. She has a unique chance to ink her legacy on the venue if she were to claim the PTO Open title.

“I am absolutely looking forward to it. When I was a little girl, I remember going to Hawrelak Park and watching Simon Whitfield,” explained Findlay. “ I remember getting an autograph from him at the end of the race. That’s what encouraged me to get into the sport. So, to be able to come back now as a long-distance athlete and race in Hawrelak Park is something I never thought would ever happen.”

“My season has been focused on Edmonton and the new $1 million PTO Canadian Open, because I know that if I’m fully fit and healthy I can be competitive. I proved that to myself by winning the PTO Championship in Daytona in 2020 against the best in the world.”

The full PTO Canadian Open women’s line-up and be found here and includes:

Not only will the top professionals be competing for a $1 million prize purse, the PTO Canadian Open is the final event to determine automatic qualifying spots for The Collins Cup teams, with 10% PTO Bonus points available. Expect the athletes to leave it all on the course as they look to secure a spot at The Collins Cup or impress their Team Captains in the hope of a coveted Captain’s Pick.

Reflecting on the field announcement, PTO CEO Sam Renouf said:

“The PTO Tour is all about celebrating the world’s ultimate endurance athletes – triathletes, and giving them a global stage on which to perform. I’m confident the first PTO Canadian Open will do that, which is why we are so excited by the full reveal of today’s world class field for the women’s race.”

“Speaking to the triathletes, I know one of the things they have really missed over the last few years, is to feel like they are putting on a proper show for everyone; the coloured carpet, the cameras and the international media coverage. With a raft of global broadcast deals set to be announced in the next few weeks and a great venue like Edmonton ready to roll out the red carpet to the best triathletes on the planet, I think we’re in for something genuinely special at our first PTO Tour event. And don’t forget, there are also vital PTO Rankings points on offer that will have a huge bearing on the European, US and International Teams for the following month’s Collins Cup.”

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 starts with the PTO Canadian Open (July 23-24); followed by the second edition of $1.5 million Ryder Cup-style Collins Cup (August 20-21), which sees Team Europe take on Team USA and Team International. It will conclude with the first PTO US Open in Dallas, Texas (September 17-18). Each Open carries a minimum prize money of $1 million and will be raced over 100km – a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run.

The $1 million PTO Canadian Open prize fund breakdown as follows:

What is unique about triathlon, and the PTO Tour especially, is that amateurs get the chance to watch the world’s best triathletes as well as sign up to compete alongside them – over a 25km or 100km triathlon.

The men’s field for the PTO Canadian Open will be released tomorrow – Tuesday 28 June.

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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.