The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has announced its wildcards for the PTO Asian Open men’s and women’s races in Singapore on August 19-20, 2023.
On the men’s side, Marten Van Riel (BEL) gets his second PTO Tour wildcard following his inclusion for the PTO US Open.
PTO World #38 David McNamee from Great Britain is rewarded with a start for his 11th place finish at the PTO European Open in Ibiza and second place at the recent Challenge Salou.
New Zealander Mike Phillips gets his first PTO Tour start after some strong results this season that include him having won IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong and IRONMAN New Zealand.
The final men’s wildcard goes to the popular German Mika Noodt, who is back to fitness after a long lay off since the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships last October.
On the women’s side Amelia Watkinson (NZL) gets another crack at a PTO Open after finishing 16th at the PTO European Open.
Radka Kahlefeldt (CZE), who is very popular in South East Asia having won and podiumed there in many races, gets her second shot at a PTO Tour race.
Ruth Astle is the third women’s wildcard. The three time IRONMAN winner and PTO Athlete Board member will start her third race of the season in Singapore, looking to improve on 7th position in Challenge Gran Canaria and then a frustrating DNF at the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Ibiza.
Australian Penny Slater is the final women’s wildcard. Racing Kona in 2022 as one of the youngest professional females highlighted her ambition to reach the top echelons of the sport and she has had promising performances this season, where she has made the podium in four of her five races.
Both the women’s and men’s 100km races in Singapore will take place at the Marina Bay area against the backdrop of the Singapore skyline. The 100km course includes a 16km circuit for the bike leg, which starts and finishes at the Bayfront Event Space and takes athletes up the Sheares Bridge to give views of the city.
The prize fund for PTO Open events in 2023 is US$600,000 per event split evenly between the top 20 female and male athletes – with US$100,000 for the winner, US$50,000 for second and US$35,000 for third.
PTO Tour events also provide opportunities for the amateurs to race on the same courses and on the same weekend as the leading professionals. Alongside the 100km triathlon for professionals, there is also a 100km for experienced amateurs as well as two duathlon races over a standard 4.5km run/32km bike/4.5km run and a longer 9km run/64km bike/9km run.
There is also the return to Singapore of The Music Run – a 5km fun run that encourages everyone to take part while listening to their favourite tunes.
The Music Run has a strong following across Asia, after previously staging events in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Taiwan and a record breaking 17,000 participants in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022.
www.protriathletes.org
www.themusicrun.com.sg
