London, UK: The San Francisco T100 Triathlon will see PTO World #1 Ashleigh Gentle take on World #2 Taylor Knibb for the first time this season, as the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon confirmed the contractedT100 female athletes on the start list.
The Australian winner from Singapore will line up against the American Olympic hopeful on Saturday 8 June, in what promises to be an explosive 100km encounter for the third T100 race of the new 8-leg T100 Triathlon World Tour.
Gentle versus Knibb is just one of the intriguing head-to-head’s that will take place in the City by the Bay over the legendary Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon course. German ace Anne Haug makes her T100 debut and will line up alongside Gentle and Knibb together for the very first time.
Laura Philipp makes her first T100 start line and 2022 Ironman World Champion, American Chelsea Sodaro, looks forward to returning to the city she went to college and considers a second home. 10-time Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf also hopes to be on the start line, injury permitting.
The full list of contracted T100 women who will compete in the San Francisco T100 includes:
- Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
- Taylor Knibb (USA)
- Anny Haug (GER)
- Daniela Ryf (SUI)
- Laura Philipp (GER)
- Paula Findlay (CAN)
- Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR)
- Kat Matthews (GBR)
- India Lee (GBR)
- Chelsea Sodaro (USA)
- Imogen Simmonds (SUI)
- Lucy Byram (GBR)
- Amelia Watkinson (NZL)
- Marjolaine Pierre (FRA)
- Skye Moench (USA)
- Tamara Jewett (CAN)
The 100km T100 race (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) will be set in the stunning San Francisco Bay area, who will start in time-honored fashion by plunging into the icy water adjacent to Alcatraz Island.
Since the first race in 1981, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon has hosted top professional and amateur triathletes to attempt the impossible – Escape from Alcatraz Island. The infamy of Alcatraz Island is part of the attraction that draws more than 2,000 triathletes to San Francisco year after year. The mystique of the island and technicality of the course, most notably the challenging open water swim in the San Francisco bay, continue to draw competitors for the chance to make their Escape. The challenging course has continued to be a bucket list race for triathletes for more than 40 years.
The contracted T100 men taking part in San Francisco will be announced tomorrow [Tuesday 7 May], with the wildcards for both races announced at the end of the week.
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For Further Information:
Anthony Scammell E: [email protected]
About Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)
The PTO is a sports body that is co-owned by its professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is the new name for the PTO Tour and has been designated by World Triathlon as the ‘official World Championship for long distance triathlon’. It is a season-long schedule of eight T100 races during 2024 that will be competed over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run) and will feature the world’s best triathletes going head-to-head in Miami (9 March), Singapore (13-14 April), San Francisco (8-9 June), London (27-28 July), Ibiza (28-29 September), Lake Las Vegas (19-20 October), Dubai (16-17 November) and at the Grand Final (29-30 November). There will also be racing opportunities for amateurs at all the events, including the new 100km distance at six stages, including: Singapore, London, Ibiza, Lake Las Vegas, Dubai and at the Grand Final. The global broadcast shows the races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters.