Taylor Knibb out of Collins Cup
2021 Collins Cup MVP to be replaced by Jocelyn McCauley
Photo by:
Professional Triathletes Organisation
The big star for Team USA at last year’s Collins Cup, Taylor Knibb, won’t be in the starting line up this year. According to a release from the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), Knibb “is not fully fit and will focus on a return to competition later this season.”
Knibb’s incredible performance last year set the stage for Team USA’s impressive runner-up finish to the Europeans, which relegated Team International to third in the competition. While Europe was considered a huge favourite before the race, it was widely expected that Team International would finish second. Knibb, in just her second long distance race, was matched against four-time Kona champion Daniela Ryf (PTO ranked #1) and New Zealand’s Teresa Adam, ranked second in the PTO world ranking.
“The night before the draft match-ups, Mark and I sat down with Taylor and told her that if we had the chance, we wanted to put her against Ryf, and she said she was ready,” said Team USA captain Karen Smyers. “While she clearly has great respect for the PTO World No. 1 and nine-time World Champion, Taylor has the fearlessness of youth, and she would never back down from the challenge.”
Knibb would go on to have the day’s fastest time and easily beat Ryf. For that she was named the women’s MVP for the Collins Cup competition.
She’ll be replaced by Jocelyn McCauley, the winner of Ironman Texas last April. Last year McCauley competed at the Collins Cup as a replacement for Heather Jackson. She finished second to Team Europe’s Kat Matthews and ahead of Team International member Carrie Lester.
You can see the full Collins Cup team line ups here.
