Professional Triathletes Organisation Announce Age Group Racing at Collins Cup in Partnership With Challenge Family And X-Bionic® Sphere

January 20, 2022

20th January 2022. LONDON/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) today announced that it has appointed Challenge Family as local organising committee (LOC) to deliver the second annual Collins Cup on 20th and 21st August 2022 at theextraordinary x-bionic®sphere in  Šamorín, Slovakia.

The Collins Cup is the 2nd race of the PTO Tour which also consists of the PTO Canadian Open and the PTO USA Open in 2022 with The PTO Asian Open and the PTO European Open being added in 2023 and will see the world’s greatest non-drafting professional male and female triathletes competing in Slovakia for a prize purse of $1,500,000.

The inaugural Collins Cup, the game-changing new race format for triathlon, modeled after the Ryder Cup saw three teams of Internationals, European, and USA athletes pitted against one another in 12 race matches in some of the most dynamic racing ever seen in the sport. The new format resulted in phenomenal viewing figures moving it closer to long established properties like tennis and golf.

The professional men’s race and women’s race will take place on Saturday 20th August, are each a 100km distance which comprises a 2km freshwater swim in the Danube river, a 80km fast and flat bike leg and a 18km run over a variety of different terrain in the beautiful countryside surrounding the x-bionic®sphere in  Šamorín.

This year, the Collins Cup will also introduce age group racing over the 100km distance as well as a relay option, giving amateurs the opportunity to meet and race alongside the world’s best PTO professionals from Team Europe, Team US and Team Internationals. Competitors will be able to absorb all the hair-raising, heart thumping and inspirational action from the professional race on Saturday 20th August before taking to the closed-roads course on Sunday to experience it for themselves.

Given the success of last year’s event, this year’s prestigious event will remain at the x-bionic®sphere in Šamorín, a one-of-a-kind sports playground just 25km from the historic capital of Bratislava. A significant difference is that in 2021, the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic meant that the Collins Cup took place alongside The Championship. However in 2022, the Collins Cup will be run independently with the PTO appointing Challenge Family as the LOC to deliver the professional race as well as the new addition of age group races.

The Collins Cup will have the same world class TV production broadcast as last year shown live to a global audience as well as high-quality shoulder programming showcasing the stories of the PTO Professionals including PTO World No 1’s Lucy Charles Barclay and Gustav Iden.

Sam Renouf, CEO of the PTO, stated: “We are delighted to partner with Challenge Family and the x-bionic®sphere to deliver The Collins Cup in year two. Our very first Collins Cup last year showcased our tremendous professionals to a cumulative global audience of close to 7 million triathlon fans across live and highlights with close to 1000 hours of broadcast coverage aired live and on demand in over 165 countries, 22 languages, covering 400 million households. We are thrilled that so many people around the world consumed the inaugural Collins Cup. By staying in Šamorín at the x-bionic®sphere we can utilise our learnings and deliver an even better event broadcast to build a wider fan base”.

Jort Vlam, CEO, Challenge Family stated: “We are delighted to be appointed as the LOC for The Collins Cup in year two, building on the success of last year’s inaugural event. The host venue of x-bionic® sphere is Challenge Family’s second home and our expertise at delivering world-class triathlons at this venue is unrivaled. Our commitment to #allabouttheathlete will ensure both age group and elite racing will provide the best experience possible for all athletes. With some positive changes made to the course and format, we are very much looking forward to working with the PTO and x-bionic® sphere to help take triathlon to a global audience.”

Michal Kraus, General Manager, x-bionic® sphere: “It was truly an honor for everyone in our official Olympic training center to host the inaugural event of The Collins Cup in 2021. Our dedication in striving for excellence has been inspired by the virtues that sport represents in societies all over the world. We are genuinely excited that The Collins Cup will return again in 2022 to our premises. We guarantee the top ranked PTO athletes, every single participating age-group athlete and all the spectators that we will raise the bar of expectations a little higher to celebrate the performances in our beautiful sport of triathlon“.  Click here to view x-bionic® sphere.

Age Group registration will open on 25th January at 9am EST. Entry to age group racing is accessed via events.protriathletes.org/pto-tour/. 

About the x-bionic®sphere

Home of the Collins Cup in 2021 and 2022, the x-bionic sphere in Šamorín is located just 25km from Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital. One of the most advanced sports complexes in the world, the x-bionic®sphere is Slovakia’s official Olympic Training Centre, offering professional-level conditions for 27 Olympic disciplines. Designed as a destination dedicated to helping all guests experience the excitement of victory and success, it’s a stunning location in a truly beautiful part of the world. With an on-site hotel catering for 1,150 guests; four restaurants; a three-floor 1000m2 gym; the x-bionic aquatic sphere with 25 and 50m pools; gymnastics centre; running track; and 379,167m2 dedicated equestrian activity space, there are activities for all the family. At the end of a hard, or easy, day you can fully unwind at the x-bionic® wellness sphere where you’ll find a luxurious assortment of individual relaxation, healing and beautifying procedures as well as relaxing massages administered by certified spa therapists.

About Challenge Family

Challenge Family is the fastest growing global triathlon series. With over 30 full and middle distances in 27 countries and spectacular courses in iconic destinations, no Challenge Family race is like any other. Focusing on delivering the race of a lifetime to athletes of all ages and abilities, Challenge Family races provide memorable experiences that capture all the excitement and emotions of this inspirational sport. 

About the Professional Triathletes Organisation:

The Professional Triathletes Organisation 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.

The Collins Cup 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