PTO to Host First U.S. Triathlon Tour Event in Irving, Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26th January 2022

LONDON: The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) today announced the first ever stateside PTO Tour event – The PTO USA Open – in partnership with USA Triathlon, the Dallas Sports Commission and the City of Irving on 17-18th September in Las Colinas-Irving, Texas.

The inaugural PTO USA Open is the 3rd race of the PTO Tour which also consists of the PTO Canadian Open, the Collins Cup, the PTO Asian Open and the PTO European Open. This US stage of the PTO Tour will see the world's greatest non-drafting professional male and female triathletes competing in Irving, Texas for a prize purse of $1,000,000.

The professional men's race and women's race, are each a 100km distance which comprises a 2km swim, 80km bike leg and a 18km run. The PTO USA Open will also introduce age group racing over both the 100km and 25km distance, as well as a relay option, giving amateurs the opportunity to meet and race alongside the PTO professionals in the centrally located Las Colinas-Irving district, a short distance from downtown Dallas.

The race venue at Levy Event Plaza, a convenient 10-minute drive from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, opened in 2020 in the city's Las Colinas Urban Center along Lake Carolyn as a dedicated outdoor hub for Irving community events. Athletes will swim in Lake Carolyn and the bike and run courses will take athletes on rolling hills through the main thoroughfares of Irving, including Las Colinas Boulevard, Lake Carolyn Parkway and Royal Lane.

USA Triathlon will support the inaugural PTO USA Open given their experience of delivering world-class events, including the annual Toyota Age Group National Championships, which welcomed more than 6,000 participants in August 2021. The city of Irving has also partnered with USA Triathlon this year to host the Multisport National Championships Festival presented by Toyota, a four-day event featuring six national championship events.

The PTO USA Open will have world class TV production broadcast live to a global audience and high-quality shoulder programming showcasing the stories of the PTO Professionals including USA stars Taylor Knibb and Sam Long.

Sam Renouf, CEO of the PTO, stated: "We are delighted to partner with USA Triathlon, the Dallas Sports Commission and the City of Irving. Situated just 10 minutes from the major international travel hub of DFW airport, with a huge array of local hotels and accomodation, Las Colinas-Irving is sure to become a destination to remember on every Triathletes calendar. Triathlon fans are often used to trekking to rural and remote communities to race, we're thrilled to be able to deliver the PTO US Open in such an accessible and well connected location, furthering our goal of showcasing the tremendous talents of our professionals to a global audience".

Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO said: "USA Triathlon is proud to support opportunities that allow professional triathletes to compete and showcase their talents in the United States. These major events are important for our country as we continue to develop fans of our sport and grow our community. Both the PTO and the city of Irving have been great partners over the years and we look forward to our continued relationship."

"As host to a wide range of amateur and professional sporting events over the years, Irving knows sports," said Rick Stopfer, Mayor of the City of Irving. "We are also experts in hospitality, and as one of the most diverse communities in the country, we also know quite well how to welcome the world to our home. It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected as the host site for the PTO US Open in 2022, and we look forward to rolling out the red carpet for a first-class experience this September and for years to come."

Monica Paul of Dallas Sports Commission added: "The Dallas Sports Commission is proud to play a part in bringing the PTO US Open to North Texas. We are proud of the diverse sporting events that call Dallas home and support the growth of sporting events like the PTO Tour in the US. We're delighted that we get the opportunity to host the USA Open this September and can't wait to help launch the triathletes on a global stage".

Age Group registration will open on 25th January at 9am EST. Sign up via events.protriathletes.org/pto-tour/.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors - as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation - USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

About the Professional Triathletes Organization:

The Professional Triathletes Organization is a not-for-profit entity consisting of professional male and female 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.

PTO USA Open logos and launch assets can be accessed via the PTO Media Portal. If you have previously accessed the Collins Cup page on the media portal, you will automatically be granted access to the PTO Tour page by selecting 'PTO Tour' in the dropdown menu on the top left of your screen. Anyone who has not previously accessed the media portal can register at protriathletes.org/media.

Contact

Jane Hansom
Head of Communications
E: Jane.Hansom@protriathletes.org
M: +44 (0) 7703 481 478