8/15 UPDATE: Taylor Knibb, who pulled off a massive underdog performance against Daniela Ryf in last year’s Collins Cup, has withdrawn from the 2022 race. According to a release from the PTO, Knibb “is not fully fit and will focus on a return to competition later this season.” Alternate Jocelyn McCauley will race in her place. McCauley is no stranger to pinch-hitting – last year, McCauley stepped in for Heather Jackson, placing second in her competition against winner Kat Matthews and Carrie Lester.
Start your engines – the 2022 Collins Cup teams have been set. The flagship event of the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) pits the best short- and long-course athletes in triathlon in head-to-head matchups over a 2km swim, 80km bike and an 18km run for a chance at a $1.5 million prize purse.
The three teams – U.S., Europe, and International – contain 12 athletes each. The top four men and women in the PTO World Ranking for each region as of the end of July qualified automatically for the Collins Cup. In addition, each team’s captains selected two male and female wildcards (known as “Captains’ Picks” for each team), chosen regardless of PTO World Ranking. Matchups will be selected by team captains as well, and announced prior to race day.
The race will take place on August 20, 2022 in Slovakia, and will be streamed live for free on Outside Watch. After the race, O+ members will be able to access replays on demand.
RELATED: What is the Collins Cup?
Captains: Julie Moss, Dave Scott
Matt Hanson, USA (Current PTO ranking: 9)
Sam Long, USA (Current PTO ranking 10)
Rudy von Berg, USA (Current PTO ranking: 14)
Chris Leiferman, USA (Current PTO ranking: 17)
Skye Moench, USA (Current PTO ranking: 6)
Chelsea Sodaro, USA (Current PTO ranking: 11)
Jackie Hering, USA (Current PTO ranking: 13)
Jocelyn McCauley, USA (Current PTO ranking: 18)
NOT RACING: Taylor Knibb, USA (Current PTO ranking: 5)
Sarah True, USA (Current PTO ranking: 61)
Ben Kanute, USA (Current PTO ranking: 19)
Sophie Watts, USA (Current PTO ranking: 23)
Jason West, USA (Current PTO ranking: 28)
Captains: Natascha Badmann, Normann Stadler
Kristian Blummenfelt, NOR (Current PTO ranking: 1)
Gustav Iden, NOR (Current PTO ranking: 2)
Patrick Lange, DEU (Current PTO ranking: 3)
Magnus Ditlev, DEN (Current PTO ranking: 4)
Daniela Ryf, CHE (Current PTO ranking: 1)
Anne Haug, DEU (Current PTO ranking: 2)
Laura Philipp, DEU (Current PTO ranking: 3)
Kat Matthews, GBR (Current PTO ranking: 4)
Nicola Spirig, CHE (Current PTO ranking: 16)
Daniel Bakkegard, DEN (Current PTO ranking: 7)
Holly Lawrence, GBR (Current PTO ranking: 12)
Sam Laidlow, FRA (Current PTO ranking: 11)
Captains: Erin Baker, Craig Alexander
Lionel Sanders, CAN (Current PTO ranking: 5)
Braden Currie, NZL (Current PTO ranking: 6)
Max Neumann, AUS (Current PTO ranking: 13)
Jackson Laundry, CAN (Current PTO ranking: 18)
Paula Findlay, CAN (Current PTO ranking: 7)
Ashleigh Gentle, AUS (Current PTO ranking: 8)
Tamara Jewett, CAN (Current PTO ranking: 17)
Ellie Salthouse, AUS (Current PTO ranking: 20)
Flora Duffy, BMU (Current PTO ranking: Unranked)
Hayden Wilde, NZL (Current PTO ranking: Unranked)
Vittoria Lopes, BRA (Current PTO ranking: 152)
Aaron Royle, AUS (Current PTO ranking: 43)