FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30th July 2021

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and Zwift, the virtual training platform, have agreed a partnership that will see Zwift as the Official Virtual Training and Events Partner of The Collins Cup in 2021.

Scheduled to take place on 28th August at the extraordinary x-bionic® sphere in Šamorín, near Bratislava, Slovakia, The Collins Cup is a new race format modelled after the Ryder Cup, which will see teams of European, International and USA athletes pitted against one another and put on display the excitement, rivalry, drama and personalities of the sport of triathlon.

The partnership centres around ‘The Collins Cup Tri Series by Zwift’  which will be a 4 week digital activation in the lead up to the Collins Cup race on 28th August. This global community based activation will consist of a competition which means the kilometers ridden or run by participants across the globe will contribute  to their chosen teams total – either Team International, Team Europe or Team US. The winning team will earn the right to select the first race day match up at the opening ceremony on Wed Aug 25th which will be broadcast to a global audience. The full calendar of events can be found here and the results will be hosted on a real time results page on the PTO website.

There will also be a dedicated Zwift Zone as well as a dedicated area for pro athletes at the  x-bionic® sphere in Šamorín on race week where athletes will lead a group ride and run for the Zwift community. Zwift will benefit from broadcast exposure across the Collins Cup course and from a content series with PTO athletes which will be delivered over the coming months.

Craig Taylor, Director, Growth Marketing – Tri & Run at Zwift said : “We are excited to partner with the PTO for the inaugural Collins Cup to bring new and different event formats to the triathlon community. Zwift shares in PTO’s commitment to elevating the sport of triathlon to a global audience. With many of the pro athletes competing in The Collins Cup being regular Zwifters, this was the perfect opportunity to allow the community to join together in supporting their Team and idols to snag the crucial first race day match up.”

Sam Renouf, CEO of the PTO, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Zwift for the first ever Collins Cup. Zwift is the perfect partner to help us raise awareness of the event and encourage engagement. Their global community of both triathletes and cyclists will showcase the race to a huge global audience of Zwifters and The Collins Cup Tri series will encourage international rivalries to be amplified on Zwift weeks before the Collins Cup race day on 28th August as fans across the world back their respectiveTeams in advance of the race.”

About the Professional Triathletes Organisation:
The Professional Triathletes Organisation is a not-for-profit entity consisting of both men and women professional triathletes who have come together to form a representative body which not only gives them a meaningful voice in the way the sport operates but a means to contribute to its growth for the benefit of the entire triathlon community. The PTO seeks to showcase the passion, talents, determination, struggles and achievements of its dedicated professionals through iconic events, reimagined broadcast and compelling storytelling, inspiring global sports fans to watch, engage and participate in Triathlon. The PTO’s inaugural flagship event, The Collins Cup, will be held on 28th August 2021 in Samorin, Slovakia and will be a head-to-head showdown between the world’s greatest athletes to determine who rules triathlon. Sign up here for updates.

About Zwift
Zwift is the fitness company born from gaming. We’re dedicated fitness enthusiasts, experienced video game developers, and disruptive thinkers. Play is in our DNA and we know fun fuels results. Zwift utilizes massively multiplayer online gaming technology to create rich, 3D worlds ripe for exploration. Join thousands of cyclists and runners in immersive playgrounds like London, New York, and Paris as well as our very own Watopia. Our app connects wirelessly to exercise equipment: bike trainers, treadmills, and more, so your real world effort powers your avatar in the game. From friendly races to social rides and structured training programs, Zwift unites a diverse community in pursuit of a more fun, immersive and social fitness experience. www.zwift.com

Press Contacts:

PTO
Jane Hansom
E: [email protected]
M: +44(0)7703 481 478

Zwift
Chris Snook
E: [email protected]
M:+44(0) 7833 087 739