USA Triathlon, PTO and Challenge North America unite to host three-day tri festival

The new event will feature an array of age-group races and a PTO Middle Distance World Championship with a prize purse of $1,000,000

Published: April 29, 2020 at 10:01 am

USA Triathlon and the Professional Triathletes Organisation have joined forces with Challenge North America to be part of its iconic Challenge Daytona race at Daytona International Speedway on December 4th, 5th and 6th.

The three-day triathlon festival will attract athletes from around the world to compete at the “World Center of Racing ®” and will feature an array of different events, including age-grouper sprint and middle-distance events, junior challenges, a Pro-Am relay and will culminate with a PTO Middle Distance World Championship Race with a $1,000,000 prize purse for the world’s top professional triathletes.

William Christy, CEO of Challenge North America said: “In often a divided world, triathlon has been a unifying force for athletes across the globe. We come together to compete as a family of global athletes. The global pandemic has displaced athletes and cancelled races and now more than ever, our world needs to unite. Our festival allows us to cheer and compete for a shared cause.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our daily lives and routines in dramatic ways. As we adjust and adapt to these changing circumstances, we also know that our entire multisport community is eagerly awaiting the day we can safely and responsibly race again,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO. “USA Triathlon is proud to supportChallenge North America and the PTO by sanctioning a world-class event in December that will showcase the camaraderie of our sport.”

Charles Adamo, PTO Chairman, stated “The PTO is pleased to be able to work with the USA Triathlon and Challenge Daytona to support the triathlon community to provide race opportunities for athletes. Since many professional events have been cancelled and some races rescheduled without a professional prize purse, the PTO is committing $1,000,000 of prize money for the PTO Middle Distance World Championship.”

In addition, the PTO Championships on December 6th, the Challenge Daytona Festival weekend will include a wide array of events catering to athletes of all ages and abilities. The event weekend is anticipated to host the following events:

  • PTO Middle Distance World Championships
  • Sprint and Middle-Distance Triathlons
  • Junior Challenge kids’ race
  • Pro Am Relay Race
  • 5K/10K run/walk events
  • Relay categories
  • Duathlon and Aquabike events

The top six male and female finishers in each Middle-Distance Triathlon age group will qualify for entry in THE CHAMPIONSHIP, to be held in May 2021 at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.