1. Objective: The World Ranking System of The Professional Triathletes Organisation (the “PTO”) is designed to identify and rank the world’s greatest triathletes who participate in professional half-distance and full-distance triathlons. The PTO World Ranking System measures consistent excellence and will be used to determine the automatic qualifying places for The Collins Cup. Under the rules of The Collins Cup, the top four ranked men and women athletes from each of the USA, Europe and The Internationals will automatically qualify for a spot on their respective team. The PTO World Ranking System has been formulated so as not to favour any series of races or races in any geographical area, but to measure talent and achievement based on the results of an athlete no matter where and when they choose to race.
2. Eligibility of Professionals: Any athlete who holds a professional license from, or is considered in the elite/professional category by, any race organiser or governing body will be included in the PTO World Ranking System.
3. Eligible Races: Any race that has a professional prize purse and is of half-distance length or greater will be considered eligible for an athlete to earn PTO World Ranking points (an “Eligible Race”). This will include all Challenge-Family, IRONMAN and ITU sanctioned races of half-distance length or greater, as well as independent races with minimum professional prize purses. All Eligible Races have equal value in calculating points towards a PTO World Ranking. An athlete’s points will depend on their time and not on their place in a race or the strength of the field. No specific race is given any special treatment or weight.
4. Ideal Time Measurement: Based on proprietary analysis of historical data developed by and exclusively licensed from TriRating.com, the PTO has ranked each Eligible Race and determined the theoretical ideal time (the “Ideal Time”) that the top ranked athlete would achieve on the course. While each Eligible Race will have an Ideal Time, a proprietary algorithm adjustment mechanism will be applied so that the Ideal Time will be modified based on the course conditions on the day of the event (the “Adjusted Ideal Time”). For example, there may have been currents during the swim, or particularly difficult wind or heat. An athlete’s PTO World Ranking points will be based on measurement against the Adjusted Ideal Time. To the extent an Eligible Race is held on a new or modified course, the PTO will analyse the course elements and determine an Ideal Time for the race, and then apply the propriety algorithm adjustment mechanism based on course conditions on race day to determine the Adjusted Ideal Time.
5. World Ranking Points: If an athlete equals the Ideal Adjusted Time for any Eligible Race, they receive 100 points. To the extent they are faster than the Adjusted Ideal Time, they will be awarded an additional point or fraction thereof for each .15% by which they beat the Adjusted Ideal Time. To the extent they are slower than the Adjusted Ideal Time, they will lose an additional point or fraction thereof for every .15% by which they are slower.
Example
The Challenge Roth Course has an Ideal Time for men of 7:45 and an Ideal Time of 8:38 for women. Assuming certain conditions on the race day, the Adjusted Ideal Time for men is determined to be 7:48 and for women is 8:41.
6. Rankings: Athletes will be ranked based on the aggregate number of World Ranking Points that have earned for their four best races over an 80-week period (approximately 18-months) preceding the date of calculation; provided, however, if a race falls outside the most recent 52-week period (approximately 12-months) preceding the date of calculation, the points earned for such a race will be reduced by 10%. In addition, each athlete will be given a 10% bonus of points for their best full distance race that is included in their four best races. Only one race from outside the most recent 12-month period preceding the date of calculation may be used for an athlete’s ranking.
7. Maternity Policy: In the event an athlete goes on maternity leave (“Maternity Leave”), they will notify the PTO and from the date of such notification (“Maternity Notification Date”) and for the purposes of being listed in the PTO World Rankings, the number of points she has will be fixed as of the Maternity Notification Date. During her Maternity Leave she will be included in the rankings based on such number of fixed points with a notation that she is on Maternity Leave; provided, however, she will only be eligible to compete in The Collins Cup after her return from Maternity Leave and based on her ranking calculated pursuant to paragraph 8.
8. Return From Maternity Leave: Once an athlete completes a race after she returns from Maternity Leave (the “Maternity Return Date”) for the first 12 months after the Maternity Return Date her ranking shall be calculated based on her best four races selected from the 12-month period after the Maternity Return Date (“Maternity Return Period”); provided, however, she may include points from two races earned during the period of nine-months prior to the Maternity Notification Date without the 10% reduction normally applicable to races falling outside the most recent 12-month period preceding the date of calculation as per paragraph six above. After the Maternity Return Period or if the Maternity Return Date is after 18 months from the Maternity Notification Date, the athlete’s ranking shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph six above.
9. Long-Term Injury Policy: In the event an athlete suffers an injury that will cause them not to be able to race for at least four months they can elect to notify the PTO of such injury status and that they desire to be put on injury leave (“Injury Leave”) and from the date of such notification (“Injury Notification Date”), and for the purposes of being listed in the PTO World Rankings, the number of points the athlete has will be fixed as of the Injury Notification Date. During the athlete’s Injury Leave they will be included in the rankings based on such number of fixed points with a notation that they are on Injury Leave; provided, however, they will only be eligible to compete in The Collins Cup after return from Injury Leave and based on their ranking calculated pursuant to paragraph 10.
10. Return From Injury Leave: Once an athlete completes a race after they return from Injury Leave (the “Injury Return Date”) for the first 12 months after the Injury Return Date their ranking shall be calculated based on their best four races selected from the 12- month period after the Injury Return Date (“Injury Return Period”); provided, however, they may include points from two races earned during the period of nine-months prior to the Injury Notification Date without the 10% reduction normally applicable to races falling outside the most recent 12-month period preceding the date of calculation as per paragraph six above. After the Injury Return Period or if the Injury Return Date is after 12 months from the Injury Notification Date, the athlete’s ranking shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph six above.
11. Modification: The PTO World Ranking System may be amended or modified at any time by the determination of the non-athlete members of the Executive Committee of the PTO.