PTO and World Triathlon partner on long distance World Championship Tour

World Triathlon will recognize the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) Tour “as the official World Championship Tour of long distance triathlon.” The tour will include at least six races next year, including five Continental Championships in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Presumably there will be another “Grand Final” type event included in the season as well.

Similar to the World Triathlon Championship, the series champion will be decided based on results from the entire year, rather than a single championship event.

The races will all be non-drafting and over the 100 km distance – 2 km swim, 80 km bike and 18 km run.

There will be age group championships at each of the Continental Championships and world championship events, with athletes being chosen to compete through “National Federations’ selection.”

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World Triathlon will also work together with the PTO “on a number of services, including Anti-Doping, Competition Jury appeals, Safeguarding and Manipulation of sport competition guidelines, Technical support with a Technical Delegate from World Triathlon at all events and an extensive Marketing and Commercial collaboration between both organizations.”

In a podcast interview with Jack Kelly, PTO CEO Sam Renouf said that the PTO Tour would include at least six races next year and the pro events would feature fields of 20 men and women. More details are to be released in October