It’s already July, and that means only next month we will see some of the world’s best triathletes battle at the second edition of the Collins Cup in Samorin. But that’s definitely not all, because the Professional Triathletes Organization guarantees us of a week full of triathlon fun as they also organize various World Championship races: the World Championship Long Distance Triathlon, the World Championship Aquabike and the World Championship Aquathlon. Not only for pro athletes there is reason to head out to Samorin, Slovakia, also for Age Groupers there’s enough on offer with multiple World Championship races, but also the PTO Tour 100 km event.
Race schedule Aug. 18-21
The race week kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 18 with the World Championship Aquathlon: one km of swimming and five km of running. A day later, the second edition of the PTO Collins Cup is set to take place. Athletes will battle each other in different teams: Team International, Team Europe and Team USA. On Sunday Aug. 21 the PTO Tour Collins Cup 100 km Age Group race is on. Athletes will cover the classic PTO Distance for this event: 2 km of swimming, 80 km of cycling and 18 km of running. The World Championship Long Distance Triathlon – also scheduled for Sunday – will cover those same distances, just as the World Championship Aquabike will; although athletes won’t run in that case.
Course and race location
Athletes who race the classic PTO 100 km distance – the Collins Cup, the World Championship Long Distance Triathlon, the Age Group event and part of the World Championship Aquabike – will swim one lap of two km in the Danube River. The bike course leads athletes through Slovakia’s countryside in one 80K lap. During the run part, athletes will enjoy the great spectator vibes around the X-Bionic Sphere Resort, where they will run 18 km in three laps.
The X-Bionic Sphere Resort – situated at a 20 km distance from capital city Bratislava – is the National Olympic Trainingcenter of Slovakia. The terrain has a four-star hotel, a 50-meter swimming pool, a wellness center and excellent gym facilities. Also, athletes can run more than 100 km on traffic-free roads in the area around Samorin. For cycling, there are enough routes to complete too.
More information
Registration up for the PTO Tour Collins Cup 100 km Age Group race – available to each athlete – is still possible. The registration fees start at 165 euros. More information about the races, the registration procedure, but also tips for accommodation and traveling, you can find here.
