TriRock Philadelphia Announces PHLY Cup For Pro Athletes

Competitor Group (CGI), owners of the TriRock Triathlon Series and parent company of Triathlete.com, announced today that the 2013 TriRock Philadelphia Triathlon with title sponsor Johnson and Johnson will feature a pro race known as the PHLY Cup. The event, formerly known as the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon, used to be a part of the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series, until it was purchased by CGI last year.

The name “PHLY Cup” derives from the symbol for Philadelphia Insurance Companies, which is the presenting sponsor of the pro race. The Olympic-distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) race will offer a prize purse of $25,000.

“The PHLY Cup is an exciting component for this event and compliments the new energy of TriRock Philadelphia,” shared Philadelphia Insurance Companies President and CEO Bob O’Leary in a press release. “We’re excited to support one of the marquee triathlon events in the country—right in our home town—and thrilled to be a sponsor of this event for the eighth consecutive year.”

Recent Ironman 70.3 California winner and 2011 Philadelphia race winner Andy Potts has already announced he will compete in the event.

“I’m excited to return to the [TriRock] Philadelphia Triathlon this year,” Potts told Triathlete.com. “Even though ownership has changed, the race remains committed to the community through the event’s sponsors (and mine; ASICS, TYR, PowerBar, Nathan,and Kestrel) and that is why I’m set on racing for the PHLY Cup. One thing that I’m looking forward to is the addition of music to the course and the finish line because it is now part of the TriRock series. The TriRock Series is all about the competitors and the experience, I just hope to help create a more memorable race weekend for the competitors. I’ll be active all weekend long and plan to meet a ton of triathletes in the area to keep their spirits up, pass on a little knowledge, and ignite their passion.”

As part of Potts’ participation at TriRock Philadelphia, he is offering 20 participants a VIP opportunity at the race. All athletes currently registered for the Olympic-distance event and who register by April 30 will be automatically entered into the Andy Potts sweepstakes. Twenty athletes will receive prizes from local race sponsors including Asics shoe gift certificates, TYR bags and PowerBar nutrition products. One winner will receive a Kestrel Talon Tri bike for the 2013 season. Potts will also host a pre-race lunch with a session on race tips.

“TriRock Philadelphia is recognized as one of the premier triathlon festival weekends in the country, and we’re proud to further elevate the race not only with great partners like Philadelphia Insurance Companies but also with the continued pro race,” said Molly Quinn, Vice President of Triathlon at Competitor Group, organizer of the TriRock Triathlon Series. “Philadelphia is a hub for endurance athletes to compete in world-class events year-round, and now they will have even more of a reason to participate at TriRock Philadelphia with the prestige of the PHLY Cup component of the race.”

In addition to the Olympic-distance race on Sunday, the family-friendly event will feature three days of activities including an expo, a sprint-distance race and a finish line concert in Fairmount Park on both days of the event. The start, finish and transition areas will be located just off of Martin Luther King Drive, near the base of Black Road.

Learn more at Trirock.competitor.com/philadelphia.

Photos: 2011 Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon

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