Tim Heming Archives - șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online /byline/tim-heming/ Live Bravely Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:38:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/favicon-194x194-1.png Tim Heming Archives - șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online /byline/tim-heming/ 32 32 Triathletes, Your Descending Is Hot Trash. Fix It or Bleed Time. /outdoor-adventure/biking/how-to-descend-bike-better/ Sat, 16 Nov 2024 09:00:59 +0000 /?p=2689089 Triathletes, Your Descending Is Hot Trash. Fix It or Bleed Time.

Gutsy descents defined the 2024 women’s Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, but everyday triathletes can get free seconds (or minutes) by practicing some key handling skills. Read how.

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Triathletes, Your Descending Is Hot Trash. Fix It or Bleed Time.

When it comes to bike training, most triathletes are locked into a power zone on their indoor trainer Ìęor focused on getting to the top of the next hill as quickly as possible. Time-saving details tend to come in the form of gear, like the latest reduced-drag skin suits or . But even though building your aerobic base and finessing your position is always beneficial, you might be surprised just how much free speed – and time – you are leaving out on the course by not placing a bit more emphasis on those bike handling skills, particularly when it comes to descending.

One of the best examples of this is the Ironman World Championship course in Nice, France, with its 8,000 feet of elevation in the Maritime Alps. In 2019, we marveled at Rudy Von Berg railing it around the corners on familiar roads in the 70.3 worlds. Last year, we saw fellow Frenchman Sam Laidlow deliver similarly over the full distance as he became the youngest men’s winner ever. But perhaps the best example is that of British athlete Kat Matthews at the 2024 Ironman World Championship Nice, whose descending in the second part of the bike leg – much of it in the company of eventual winner Laura Philipp – meant that by the time the pair reached T2, they were seven minutes ahead of French local Marjolaine Pierre and the rest of the field had splintered in their wake.

To illustrate just how hard Matthews rode, she handily – and, thankfully, to give even more helpful context, so did many of the pro women she raced against. When we pore over the Strava data at different sections of the descent, we can can really show where the time gaps were created.

How Descending Shaped the Race at the 2024 Ironman World Championship Nice

As you can see from the graphic, the Ironman course in Nice is one loop climbing to a rolling plateau before dropping back to the coast.

We’ll look at each of the notable descents in turn and then put them into the bigger picture of the race.

Descent #1: Route de Grasse Toward Pont du Loup

Descent #1: Route de Grasse towards Pont du Loup
Descent #1: Route de Grasse towards Pont du Loup (Photo: Kat Matthews/Strava)

Just over 20 miles into the ride, there is the first descent before the major climb to Col de L’Ecre. At 3.87 miles, the “Route de Grasse towards Pont du Loop” segment on Strava drops 618 feet at an average grade of 3%.

It’s not a particularly technical descent, but we can tell the women are racing it – and also benefiting from closed roads – because the top eight times on this segment are set during the race.

Matthews takes the QOM (“Queen of the Mountain” on Strava) and 13 seconds on Pierre. It’s worth noting that at this point, other than the descent, Pierre is on the charge, leading the race and putting time into everyone except Philipp (who is further back out of the water). That she loses even a few seconds here is a tell for what might come later.

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2 Triathletes Confirmed Dead at Sprint World Triathlon Championship /outdoor-adventure/water-activities/2-triathletes-dead-sprint-world-triathlon-championship/ Sun, 20 Oct 2024 08:00:04 +0000 /?p=2685929 2 Triathletes Confirmed Dead at Sprint World Triathlon Championship

Race officials confirmed the death of a Mexican athlete and a British national, while participants raised concerns around organization

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2 Triathletes Confirmed Dead at Sprint World Triathlon Championship

What should have been one of the biggest triathlon celebrations of the year was marred by tragedy yesterday as two athletes died during the World Triathlon age-group sprint world championship in southern Spain, according to officials.

A Mexican athlete lost his life after suffering difficulties in the swim and another male competitor from Great Britain died on the run course in Torremolinos on October 17. An investigation is underway over both incidents amid allegations of poor organization and lax medical procedures from participants.

A World Triathlon statement confirmed the news, saying: “Our deepest condolences go to the respective family, friends, National Federations and all the triathlon family. World Triathlon, the Spanish Federation and the LOC [local organizing committee] are in contact with their families and NFs [national federations] to provide all the support needed in these difficult and sad times.”

British Triathlon also confirmed that the family of a member of its age-group team had been notified and were being supported, adding: “British Triathlon and the Age-Group Team send their condolences and we request that their privacy be respected at this time.” World Triathlon said both families had requested the names of the deceased to be kept private.

World Triathlon championship swim deaths
Allegations of poor organization and lax medical procedures by participants have prompted an investigation into two deaths at the age-group sprint world triathlon championship race. (Photo: World Triathlon)

, a professional triathlete and coach from Colorado, who was at the venue and witnessed the incident in the swim raised organizational shortcomings on social media in the hours following.

“I’ve just got back from the sprint distance,” he said. “I just want to say, World Triathlon, that was some of the worst lifeguarding, the worst awareness, the worst communication I’ve seen at an event ever.

“There was an older man that was clearly signaling for help a few hundred yards out from the finish. Everyone on shore saw it, everyone was yelling for somebody to go there. [The] kayaker is completely oblivious, paddling away.”

 

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World Triathlon responded by rejecting the claim that swim conditions were poor and told Triathlete that swim conditions were classed as “optimal” for the event by the local marine authorities. It also added that there were more dedicated water safety resources deployed than legally required.

Triathlete subsequently contacted another individual working in an official capacity at the venue who wished to remain anonymous but said: “To be honest, racing conditions were horrendous. [It was] too late in the day, so loads of wind, making it impossible to sight on the swim. People [were] swimming every way, taking ages. And after a week of rain, today was pretty warm while they were running.”

from the UK Meteorological Office show the average high temperature on race day in Torremolinos was 74 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity between 50 and 60 percent over the course of the day. Hourly average wind speeds were reported between 12 and 18 mph during the race.

To compound the allegations, a further undisclosed source working at the venue said that attempts to resuscitate the British participant, who had collapsed during the 5-kilometer run leg, were delayed by an absence of medical staff who had rushed to the swim incident, leaving the individual on the run without any medical expertise for almost 20 minutes.

World Triathlon said it is working with local authorities, including the police, to investigate both incidents and could offer no further comment at this time. When asked directly about allegations of poor organization, it reconfirmed that position.

The deaths follow a further recent tragedy in Ironman Calella-Barcelona less than two weeks ago, when Elena Smirnova, a 41-year-old Russian, was pulled from the water and died en route to hospital.

Another participant died after a medical emergency in the swim leg in Ironman 70.3 Oregon in July and two triathletes also passed while taking part in Ironman Ireland last year.

The event in Torremolinos near Malaga is the climax of the World Triathlon season. Running from October 17-20, more than 5,500 triathletes from over 80 countries are set to compete in categories running from amateur to elite competition as well as junior, under-23, and paratriathletes.

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A Pro Triathlete Admitted to Doping After Testing Positive for EPO /health/training-performance/collin-chartier-triathlete-doping-epo/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:00:47 +0000 /?p=2628183 A Pro Triathlete Admitted to Doping After Testing Positive for EPO

Collin Chartier recorded a positive test in February

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A Pro Triathlete Admitted to Doping After Testing Positive for EPO

that American pro triathlete Collin Chartier tested positive for EPO from an out-of-competition test performed on February 10, 2023. Upon receipt of the positive test, Chartier admitted to the use of the banned substance to the agency, and as a result received a reduced ban of three years, down from four according to the ITA.

Erythropoietin, known as EPO, is prohibited under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations because it stimulates erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and can modify the body’s capacity to transport oxygen, increasing stamina, and performance.

In a social media post released on Monday morning, Chartier went on to further admit his use of a “PED in November after feeling like I have lost my way in the sport,” due to “intense pressure and expectations to win the biggest races in 2024.” His post went on to say that he had no plans to return to the sport after the three-year ban was lifted.

Despite having a relatively inauspicious short course career, Chartier was an up-and-coming triathlete in the long-course scene.

Coached by Mikal Iden, the brother of reigning Ironman world champion Gustav, he was a shock winner of last year’s inaugural PTO U.S. Open in Dallas in September where he won $100,000 topping a highly competitive field including Magnus Ditlev and Sam Long.

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Training alongside two-time Ironman world championship runner-up Lionel Sanders, the victory came three weeks after his first full-distance Ironman victory in Mont-Tremblant. Chartier then had a disappointing debut in Hawaii in the Ironman World Championship in October when he finished 35th.

Prior to those results, Chartier’s highest competitive finish was a win at Challenge Salou in October 2021 and a third-place finish at 70.3 Boulder in August of the same year.

Fellow pros posting in response to Chartier’s Instagram message gave mixed comments, with 2014 Ironman world champion Sebastian Kienle saying: “Let me guess, you bought it on the internet and also learned how to use it – all from the internet. Nobody helped you, nobody knew.”

Former triathlete-turned-elite-runner Lauren Goss commented: “Dude brave of you . No one sees the mental health side. Walk through the fire.”

Despite being PTO-ranked No 14 and an automatic qualifier, Chartier was not on the start-list for May’s big money PTO European Open in Ibiza. He had originally planned to race Saturday’s Ironman Texas and had been training at altitude in California, Ecuador, and Girona in Spain.

The International Testing Agency (ITA), the testing body who administered and discovered the adverse finding is a Switzerland-based, not-for-profit that claims no connection to “sporting or political powers” on its website. The ITA conducts testing for the Ironman organization from a pool of Ìęas of this writing—which includes Chartier.

Coincidentally, Ironman said that 2023 is the first year the brand has delegated results management and prosecution of doping cases to the ITA. “Testing plans are based on a variety of factors and differ from individual athlete to individual athlete, with review of specific performances, intelligence, and the testing plans of National Anti-Doping agencies to maximize resources,” Ironman said in a statement.

“Ironman does acknowledge the significance of the decision made by Collin in promptly accepting responsibility for his actions.”

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Ironman Champion Daniela Ryf and the Curious Case of the Banned Wetsuit /outdoor-gear/water-sports-gear/ironman-champion-daniela-ryf-banned-wetsuit/ Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:03:35 +0000 /?p=2602558 Ironman Champion Daniela Ryf and the Curious Case of the Banned Wetsuit

The five-time Ironman world champion says she unknowingly wore a banned wetsuit in competition. Triathlon organizers have decided not to punish her.

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Ironman Champion Daniela Ryf and the Curious Case of the Banned Wetsuit

Five-time Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf has admitted to having worn a banned wetsuit during the 2021 and 2022 Collins Cup team triathlons, as well as at the 2022 edition of Ironman Switzerland.

But Ryf, 35, says she wasn’t aware that the Speedo Tri Elite suit was outlawed until she was informed by Ironman global director of rules and officiating Jimmy Riccitello after this year’s Swiss Ironman.

“I was not aware the model is prohibited as it is not on an official prohibited list and I would have never worn it otherwise,” the Swiss triathlon star said. “I fully accept this decision and I also guaranteed I will never wear this model for any race again. It was never my intention to use a product which isn’t allowed. I always loved the Speedo wetsuits for their flexibility, and the panels were not the reason I wore it.”

Neither Ironman nor the Collins Cup will annul Ryf’s results or sanction her for the suit.

The Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit falls foul of the rules because it incorporates raised panels on the forearms, which are designed to help catch more water with each stroke and propel the swimmer faster through the water. Speedo discontinued the suit in 2013.

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“Although an old FAQ on the Ironman website lists the Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit as prohibited, the Ironman competition rules do not expressly prohibit the Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit or ‘catch panels’,” Riccitello explained.

“When an issue is not specifically addressed in Ironman’s rules, Ironman follows World Triathlon rules with respect to equipment legality. specifically requires that ‘the most external part of the wetsuits will fit to the athlete’s body tightly
 ‘ and therefore the Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit would be prohibited due to its ‘catch panels.’”

Riccitello confirmed that no further action would be taken against Ryf because technical officials at Ironman Switzerland–which Ryf won on July 10—did not notice the illegal wetsuit. No athletes protested her use of the wetsuit on race day or anytime afterward.

“Ironman is reluctant to retroactively disqualify an athlete for violating a rule that was not clearly stated in the Ironman rules or the event-specific athlete guide, and was not noticed by event referees or via an athlete protest,” Riccitello added. “Daniela is aware that Ironman considers the Speedo Tri Elite to be an illegal wetsuit and will no longer use the suit at any Ironman event.

“Moving forward, the Ironman competition rules will be updated to align with World Triathlon competition rule 4.12(d), thus prohibiting the use of the Speedo Tri Elite and any wetsuit with similar technology.”

The Professional Triathletes Organisation, which operates the Collins Cup, also confirmed that no retrospective action would be forthcoming. A spokesperson said: “The independent, lead race official on duty at the Collins Cup identified no infringements at the time of the race. Whilst there is no facility for retrospective action, our PTO athlete board representative [Dylan McNeice] did raise the matter with Daniela’s manager, once it had come to light after the weekend.”

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Daniela Ryf wears an illegal wetsuit at Collins Cup triathlon.
Ryf wearing the banned wetsuit at the Collins Cup. (Photo: Professional Triathletes Organization)

Ryf won Ironman Switzerland after posting the fastest swim (51:19) in the women’s field–more than five minutes clear of Tara Grosvenor, who was second out of the water.

Ryf was also the fastest woman at the Collins Cup, with the day’s fourth-quickest swim, as she defeated Olympic champion Flora Duffy and U.S. wildcard pick Sarah True in a high profile first match-up. The PTO awarded Ryf the Erin Baker Award as the women’s competition’s Most Valuable Player.

Ryf also wore the Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit in last year’s Collins Cup where she struggled with sickness. The logo was covered and at the time Ryf was under contract with Deboer wetsuits.

The Speedo Tri Elite wetsuit was heralded on launch almost a decade ago, but was swiftly discontinued and deemed non-compliant. A 2013 online review of the suit on Australian triathlon websiteÌę stated: “In a bold move, Speedo have introduced forearm panels that expand during the pull phase of the stroke. I could feel the effect of this while swimming. It felt like the panels expanded, caught water and then propelled me forward in the later part of the pull phase. During the recovery phase the water had exited the panels so my arms could turn over as per normal.”

Ryf exiting the water at the Collins Cup. (Photo: Professional Triathletes Organization)

An experienced pro triathlete confirmed toÌęTriathleteÌęthat, in 15 years of racing at the highest level of World Triathlon, Ironman and other long course events, they had never had their wetsuit checked before the start. While rare, disqualifications for wearing incorrect swimwear have happened. In 2014, three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander was disqualified at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii for wearing a sleeved racing suit during a non-wetsuit swim race. The sleeves were prohibited under USA Triathlon rules.

Ryf’s PR manager Janine Geigele confirmed that the three-year wetsuit deal Ryf signed with Deboer in April 2019 has expired and she will wear Speedo wetsuits moving forward.

“It was never her intention to use a wetsuit that is not allowed and is very, very, sorry for any confusion she may have caused,” Geigele reaffirmed. “She fully supports the decision to make it more clear to athletes which models are allowed and not.”

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Para-Athletes Use Some of the Most Innovative Gear We’ve Seen /outdoor-gear/gear-news/paralympics-innovative-sports-gear/ Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:00:14 +0000 /?p=2529902 Para-Athletes Use Some of the Most Innovative Gear We’ve Seen

From running blades to $16,000 handbikes, high-tech gear helped athletes shatter records in Tokyo

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Para-Athletes Use Some of the Most Innovative Gear We’ve Seen

Just like the Olympics, the Paralympic Games overflow with sporting greatness and remarkable characters. But unlike Olympians, Paralympians use gear for more than just an edge—it’s what allows them to compete.ÌęEngineers have come up with ingenious designs to enable athletes with a wide range of injuries and disabilities to perform at their highest level.

In the aftermath of a Paralympics full of , we took a peek at some of the technical equipment used in competitions like triathlon, goalball, track and field, and the infamously brutal “.”

Running Blades

Estimated cost: $4,000 to $6,000

Running blades are so effective that Blake Leeper, a double amputee, started racing against able-bodied athletes after winning medals at the 2012 Paralympics—he was barred from Olympic competition because some argued that the blades provide an unfair advantage.

The first running blade was created by Van Phillips, who lost a leg in a water-skiing accident in the 1970s. He was dissatisfied with the prosthetics available at the time, which mimicked human bone structure. Instead, he developed a new concept based on the energy recoil of tendons and ligaments. The Cheetah was launched in 1996 and quickly became widely used by Paralympic athletes.

Today, several companies make running blades, and the bionic limbs are increasingly light, springy, and durable. Some blades are built from up to 90 layers of carbon fiber—some thinner than a human hair—fused together in a 3-D printing process.

Blades differ in how much they flex. A sprinter with a fast turnover and low ground-contact time might opt for a stiffer blade; long-distance runners might choose one with more give to reduce impact on the body. They also have significant differences in fit and motion. Above-the-knee amputees can go for a prosthesis with a bionic knee joint that allows for a more familiar up-and-down running action, or one that creates a straight leg from hip to blade and requires a roundhouse stride. Factors like the length of the stump, whether one or both legs have been amputated, and personal preference also figure into the decision.Ìę

For example, unlike some of his rivals, British champion Richard Whitehead runs with a straight-leg prosthesis, meaning his forward momentum comes from hip rotation. While that makes his starts comparatively slow, his dominating speed has led to two gold medals and a silver in the T42 200-meter event, for above-the-knee amputees.

Racing Wheelchairs

Estimated cost: $10,000 to $12,000

With a racing wheelchair, the best para-athletes can reach speeds of around 30 miles per hour (that’s three miles per hour faster than Usain Bolt). These speeds, on wheels, make the sport more akin to cycling than running. For example, racers often try to take advantage of drafting, tucking in behind a rival until late in an event.Ìę

The effort, cost, and engineering that go into racing chairs also mirror cycling. The chairs are made of lightweight carbon fiber or titanium, and aerodynamics play a key role in design. The big difference of course is that the athlete uses arms instead of legs for power, rotating push rims on the wheels that drive a single gear. In this case the circumference of the push rim dictates how hard the chair will be to move forward. A bigger circumference means it’s easier to get the chair rolling initially, but a smaller push rim has the advantage of being able to deliver more power per push. (Racers use gloves to protect their hands.)

Steering is another matter. A “compensator” that acts like a rudder is positioned just below the frame and connected to the front wheel. It allows for fine adjustments when rounding a curve on the track or battling wind resistance on the road. Para-athletes spend years perfecting their technique for pushing and rolling at high speeds.Ìę

Beyond the racing events, four other Paralympic wheelchair sports—basketball, fencing, rugby, and tennis—require chairs that are designed for agility rather than straight-line speed. The basketball chair, for example, has wheels pitched steeply inward for ease of turning. They’re made of titanium or aluminum to withstand the amount of contact they receive during a match, although it’s not quite as much as the chairs used by rugby players (below).

Rugby Wheelchairs

Estimated cost: $10,000 to $15,000

These wheelchairs deserve a category of their own. Even with a design approach that emphasizes durability, many don’t last long. That’s because wheelchair rugby is also known as Murderball.

Wheelchairs used by attackers and defenders tend to differ. Attacking chairs are shorter and have a protective bumper and curved wings to allow them to turn quickly and elude defenders. Defensive chairs have a protruding bumper specifically designed to “hook” and hold an attacker, just as you might tackle or block in conventional rugby or on a gridiron.Ìę

Unlike sports that have different classes for athletes with different levels of body function or injury, wheelchair rugby puts all athletes on the field together. Those with less impairment tend to take on offensive roles. It’s also a mixed-gender sport, and in Tokyo, became the first woman to win rugby gold when Great Britain defeated the U.S. in the title game.

Not surprisingly, chair maintenance is never ending. Axles, tires, and wheels require patching up or complete overhauls after every match. Regular competitors will need entire chair replacements every couple of years.

Handcycles

Estimated cost: $13,000 to $16,000

Paralympic puts together various types and levels of impairment with four categories of gear: handcycles, tricycles, bicycles, and tandem bikes. Tricycles are typically ridden by athletes who can use their legs but have balance issues that prevent them from using bikes. Some athletes can use modified bicycles, while competitors with vision impairments use tandem bikes with guides. Handcyclists use their arms, creating a sport that sits somewhere between cycling and wheelchair racing.Ìę

There are five classes of handcycle racer ranging from H1 to H5, where higher numbers indicate restrictions in lower limbs only and lower numbers indicate impairment in both upper and lower limbs. A handcycle is like a normal bike turned upside down, or a recumbent bikeÌęoperated by hand: the athletes hold the pedals with their hands rather than their feet, and custom-made hand grips act like cleats. The brakes are integrated into the hand-pedals. In other ways they are similar to regular bicycles, often with carbon frames, electronic shifters, and models with more than 30 gears.

Aerodynamics are crucial: the low profile allows athletes to cut through the wind at speeds over 40 miles per hour. As the design has evolved, back wheels have shrunk and become increasingly pitched in, decreasing wind resistance (although they can increase rolling resistance through the tires). Check out these stealth of Team USA bikes in Tokyo.Ìę

Specialist Balls

Estimated cost: $70 per ball or set

For several Paralympic ball sports, the key piece of equipment is the ball itself.

Goalball and five-a-side soccer are both played by athletes with visual impairments. Typically, all players are blindfolded to protect the sports’ integrity, and in goalball, players lie down and roll the ball by hand. In both sports, the balls have bells embedded in them so the players must use hand-ear coordination. A goalball is the size of a basketball but twice the weight.Ìę

Goalball has no equivalent in the Olympics, and even among Paralympic sports it stands out for the longevity of its star athletes. Asya Miller and Lisa Czechowski, American goalball , have been at it for two decades, and they competed in their sixth Paralympics in Tokyo (they won silver).

Boccia is also unique to the Paralympics but is similar to pétanque; each athlete or team throws a series of balls to try to get as close as possible to the jack. It was originally designed to be played by athletes with cerebral palsy, though at the Paralympic level, it includes athletes with other impairments affecting motor skills. The balls are made of leather, for easy gripping, and filled with plastic granules to prevent them from bouncing. They can be kicked, thrown by hand, rolled along the floor, or, for athletes with the most severe impairments, rolled down ramps.

British para-athlete David Smith won a boccia medal in Tokyo, retaining his title as the world’s best in the BC1 classification (for athletes with severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms, and trunk). Smith, who has cerebral palsy, which limits his ability to compete in other sports, told The Guardian, “I wouldn’t be a Paralympian without boccia.”

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How to Watch the Collins Cup /outdoor-adventure/water-activities/watch-the-collins-cup/ Wed, 25 Aug 2021 18:46:36 +0000 /?p=2528578 How to Watch the Collins Cup

Everything you need to know about the Collins Cup, who could win the first-ever event, how it works, and what the broadcast will look like

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How to Watch the Collins Cup

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The slugfest in Slovakia, the smackdown in Samorin, Sanders vs. Long: Part III—or, more simply put, the Ryder Cup of triathlon. However you want to define the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) inaugural flagship event, the Collins Cup, two things are for certain: it’s novel in its match-play concept, and it’s a must watch for triathlon fans.

It’s also finally (finally!) here, and this weekend 36 of the world’s finest triathletes will be competing head-to-head to answer, in the PTO’s own words: Who rules triathlon? How can you watch this first-ever Collins Cup? The answer is simple: right here. Scroll down for the PTO broadcast, which will air live at 6:30 A.M. ET Saturday and stream for the full seven hours of the event. (Before then, it’ll air the opening ceremony and draft picks.)

But first:, a little background on the Collins Cup. Want the short version? .

Where Did the Collins Cup Come From?

While he doesn’t like to admit it, the Collins Cup is the brainchild of PTO chairman Charles Adamo, a latecomer to the triathlon world who wanted to see elite long-course racers rewarded for their efforts. More importantly, Adamo helped secureÌęÌęfrom billionaire venture capitalist Mike Moritz to make this happen.

The Collins Cup concept is built on rivalries, the idea that Europe, the U.S., and rest of the world (ie. the Internationals) can foster regional pride and get one over on the opposition—and that triathletes will want to watch.ÌęThe challenge is it has none of the Ryder Cup’s near-century of tradition behind it, and it’s taken aÌęwhileÌęto get off the ground. First conceived of five years ago and originally penciled in for Roth, Germany, the Collins Cup has finally found a home at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, a purpose-built sporting mecca in Slovakia.

Boosted now by a multi-million-dollar long-term investment from Moritz’s Crankstart Investments, the PTO have pulled out the stops and are promising a big budget, spectacular global broadcast, the likes of which triathlon has never seen.

The Collins Cup Format

Each team—the U.S., Europe, and the Internationals—is made up of six women and six men. There are then 12 head-to-head-to-head match-up races, with one triathlete from each of the teams competing over a 100K course (2K swim, 80K bike, 18K run) in and around the x-bionic sphere. Yes, that is the slightly-shorter-than-a-half 100K distance the pros ; the PTO is trying to make itÌęa thing.

The winner of each match scores three points for their team, the runner-up gets two points, and last place earns just one point. Bonus points can also be scored for the margin of victory: a maximum 1.5 points for a six-minute or greater gap over the third-placed triathlete, 1 point for four minutes, and 0.5 points for two minutes.

The points are tallied up and the winning team captains will lift the inaugural Collins Cup, designed and made by jeweler Tiffany & Co. The losers are presented with the less auspicious Broken Spoke trophy for last place.

Who to Watch

Thirty-six of the world’s best triathletes will be on show, withÌę.” The big names include reigning Ironman champions Jan Frodeno and Anne Haug, representing Europe, along with four-time Kona winner Daniela Ryf and Canada’s characterful Lionel Sanders. On the U.S. team, the firepower comes from young Ironman winner Sam Long and Olympic medalists Katie Zafares and Taylor Knibb. With a few last-minute substitutions this past week, here are the final teams to watch at the Collins Cup:

Team USA

  • Skye Moench
  • Chelsea Sodaro
  • Jackie Hering
  • Jocelyn McCauley
  • Taylor Knibb
  • Katie Zaferes
  • Sam Long
  • Rudy von Berg
  • Matt Hanson
  • Ben Kanute
  • Justin Metzler
  • Andrew Starykowicz

Team Internationals

  • Teresa Adam
  • Paula Findlay
  • Jeanni Metzler
  • Sarah Crowley
  • Ellie Salthouse
  • Carrie Lester
  • Lionel Sanders
  • Braden Currie
  • Sam Appleton
  • Max Neumann
  • Kyle Smith
  • Jackson Laundry

Team Europe

  • Daniela Ryf
  • Anne Haug
  • Lucy Charles-Barclay
  • Holly Lawrence
  • Kat Matthews
  • Emma Pallant-Browne
  • Jan Frodeno
  • Gustav Iden
  • Patrick Lange
  • Joe Skipper
  • Daniel BĂŠkkegĂ„rd
  • Sebi Kienle

The triathlon glitterati doesn’t end with those competing, however. Each region has two legends of the sport. Six-time Ironman world champion Mark Allen and 1995 World Triathlon world champion Karen Smyers are at the helm for the USA.

The competition really comes down to who goes up against who: Can anyone beat Frodeno? Do you sacrifice an athlete against him and save your best for where you can earn points, or do you pit the best against the best? Is there any way at all to beat Team Europe’s female lineup?

This is where captains come into play. Rather than a random draw to decide the match-ups, each captain will take a turn during the opening ceremonies on Wednesday to name their athlete pick for each match—ie. Europe names a person, then the Internationals decide who to put up against them, then the U.S.; and it reverses for the next draw. For those familiar, it’s a little likeÌęÌęconcept in fantasy football.

The $1.5 Million “Prize Purse”

OK, so there isn’t actuallyÌęprize money, per se, for the Collins Cup, but there is $1.5 million in appearance fees just for being selected and making the trip—making it triathlon’s biggest purse to date. The triathletes on the start line are paid according to , meaning the current #1 (Frodeno and Ryf) will make $90,000 each, all the way down to $20,000.

Speaking of fantasy football, there’sÌę too, with prizes, including an all-expenses paid trip to the 2022 Collins Cup.

As part of the effort to make this a more exciting triathlon broadcast, the race has said they will air a secondary dashboard on screen with live data like heart rate, speed, real time points predictions, and graphs showing who is gaining and losing time.ÌęViewers will also be able to hear the communication of the captains to their mic’d up athletes throughout the race as they urge them to even greater efforts—presumably for the glory, not the money.

How to Watch the Collins Cup

Tune in right here! When the broadcast starts—about 30 minutes before the first athletes go off—the feed will be live and on demand onÌęÌęand on the șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűTV app, and will be simulcast live here onÌęșÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű.

On Saturday, August 28, three women will start at 1 P.M. local time in Slovakia (7 A.M. ET in the U.S.) and each match-up will set off at ten-minute intervals. The men will start two hours later (3 P.M. local time, 9 A.M. ET). The whole event should take around seven hours.

If you’re not in the U.S., the PTO has partnered with channels all over the world to broadcast the event live and to air an edited highlights show after, as well as run the documentary,ÌęBeyond Human. You can check who is showing the event and what parts of it they’re airing in your region on theÌę

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