PTO Reveals Exceptional US Open Start Lists

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning everyone,

I got out of my comfort zone a bit yesterday when I jumped on the track with top American short-course triathlete, Chase McQueen. My legs hadn’t cut laps at that pace for quite a while, but I surprised myself and had a ton of fun with the change in routine. Looks like these legs still have some speed in them!

In today’s edition:

• The PTO drops 🔥 start lists ahead of its US Open

• Your thoughts on what changes IRONMAN should make

• And key tips for first-time Ironman athletes

Thanks for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Mayhem in Milwaukee: PTO Drops Exceptional US Open Start Lists

The Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) has released the start lists for next month’s highly anticipated US Open on August 4 and 5 in Milwaukee. And there is no shortage of firepower! 🚀

Both #1 ranked PTO athletes Ashleigh Gentle (AUS), and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) will be heading to Wisconsin looking to fight for the win and the incredible $100,000 first-place prize.

The women’s race will be missing Anne Haug (GER) and Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), who both landed on the podium at the European Open, but there is plenty of talent that will be on display:

• Taylor Knibb will lead a strong contingent of Americans, including Chelsea Sodaro, Sarah True, and local Wisconsonian Jackie Hering.

• But Paula Findlay (CAN), Laura Phillip (GER), and Holly Lawrence (GBR) will be looking to spoil the home crowd's hopes.

There will certainly be fireworks in the men’s race, as Blummenfelt will be joined by recent Challenge Roth winner Magnus Ditlev (DEN).

• The U.S.’s best, including Sam Long, Jason West, and Ben Kanute will be frothing to be on the podium on home soil.

• Heavy hitters like Jan Frodeno (GER), Alistair Brownlee (GBR), and Aaron Royle (AUS) will be bringing the 🔥

• And we can’t forget Lionel Sanders (CAN), who has been on a training tear lately!

Tempo’s take: Just like May’s European Open, these races are going to be electric. There is just something special about these Championship-style races that bring out insane performances.

In the women’s race, the absence of Charles-Barclay will mean the swim pace might be a bit slower. But once the bike starts, Knibb will surely light it up and ask the field, “Who wants to take it from me?” 

• Other than Gentle, few will have a response.

The men’s race is also lacking a bit of arm strength, which might help someone like Magnus Ditlev be closer when the bike starts. He’s in incredible form, but does he have the wheels to hold off someone like Jason West on the run?

We can’t wait to find out!

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QUICK NEWS

🗓️ 70.3 schedule: IRONMAN has released its Spring 2024 70.3 race calendar for North America and Europe. Popular events such as 70.3 Oceanside, Nice, and Victoria are now available for registration. [Endurance.biz]

🎖️ Matthews medal: Long-course professional triathlete Kat Matthews has been awarded the UK Armed Forces Sportswomen of the Year award as she continues her comeback from catastrophic injuries. [Tri 247]

❤️ RIP Markus: ‘Bloody’ Markus Hanley, a legend of the Sunshine Coast triathlon scene, recently passed away at 90. He was known for his determination and happy-go-lucky character. [Noosa Today]

💍 Ring ring: Congrats to professional triathletes and Tempo subscribers, Eric Lagerstrom and Paula Findlay on their recent engagement! We can’t wait for the dreamy wedding photos.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Last edition we asked you what you would change if you were CEO of IRONMAN.

We got some incredible responses, including a few below:

“The rules on deferral and cancellation are terrible. We all get injured and miss events and they make it a very unfriendly and expensive experience. My club (around 30 of us) have all had similar experiences and some will never do Ironman for that very reason.”

• This is something that IRONMAN could fix. Although to play devil’s advocate, people might sign up for a race and try to defer to a more desirable race. If that makes sense?

I would separately start an IRONMAN series that makes better use of gravel road and trail run courses - a bit lighter than X-terra but still in nicer landscape and better quality run courses, (no city courses here...) - there are plenty of good tracks in Europe which allows much easier organization and lodging options, vacation spots and less crazy aero commercialization. this would also allow much more tourism promotion and separate tri series in that category.

• Gravel! Just like we suggested. Definitely sounds like an interesting concept.

“#1 is to focus on transparency. A participation sport company shouldn’t be considered shady. #2 treat the pros, like True professionals #3 an interactive database, where a AG athletes can compare their performance to others, and map their way to different AWA statuses and look up previous performances it took to qualify for WC.”

• It sounds like they’re trying to improve their overall data game. Probably as a way to retain more customers 🤑🤑🤑 But this could also be a cool application.

“Ensure ALL finisher T shirts are well designed and of top quality, as they use to be eight years ago! Similarly make sure all participants ruck sacks are of good design and quality Reset the Ironman world championship to include men and women, not separate events! Have the world championship in Kona, and once every three years in Europe. Extend the cut-off times on the bike by approximately 30 mins. Because in windy or hilly conditions it disadvantages a lot of reasonable runners. ”

• Great suggestions, if you want to price elite, you should have to provide elite swag. Also interesting with the dynamic cut-off time, kind of like Uber surge pricing but for different race contexts.

“Restructure to reduce staff numbers”

• Did IRONMAN’s CAO write this? 😂

We love our reader’s input, if only there was some kind of place for these awesome conversations to occur 🤔

Are you an expert and want to share your wisdom with thousands of engaged triathletes? Fill out this form and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

REEL TIME

Pro triathlete Cody Beals came in with the crazy 7-hour training ride reel! A plus of Ironman training - you can eat pizza mid-ride.

@cody.beals

#protriathlete #ironmantraining #ironmantriathlon #longride #triathlonbike #cycling #indoorcycling #gymtok #gymworkout #longworkout #fueling

FAVOURITES

😀 First Ironman tips: Lucy Charles-Barclay is one of the best triathletes in the world, but she had to start somewhere. Check out this great video where she talks about her best tips for first-time Ironman athletes. Lots of wisdom in this one, especially related to fueling! [Lucy Charles-Barclay]

🌍 Triple 7’s: Seven triathlons on seven continents in seven days 🤯 Yes, Raymond Braun did just that. Check out this interview where he talks about his incredible accomplishment. We just hope he took a rest week after.[CBS]

👩‍💼 Boss up: With the CEO of IRONMAN making headlines with his retirement announcement, it makes one think, who else is in charge? This article from Triathlete breaks down the c-suite leaders of the biggest organizations in triathlon. And on a refreshing note, many of them are women. [Triathlete]

🧂 NaCl: In hot summer weather, getting in the right amount and balance of electrolytes can make the difference between a PB and a DNF. Check out this Reddit thread for some great suggestions and insight on nailing your electrolytes. [Reddit]

FRIDAY MEME

🤣🤣🤣 @brian_dragotto on Threads

WEEKEND RACES

World Triathlon Championship Series - Hamburg

Start lists

Watch live on triathlonlive.tv 

Check out the rest of the weekend races including IRONMAN Vitoria- Gasteiz here.

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• How Renee Kiley helped fix the PTO rankings.

• Expert Analysis: Strength Training for an Ironman PB. 

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