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On the horizon there is a happening, not artistic, but triathletic. At Daytona International Speedway, where Nascar racing cars make thunderous turns at 300 km / h, there is an eerie calm on Sunday. Not howling engines and screeching 100,000 fans fill the air in the giant oval, but swimmers whizzing through the water, pilots racing on buzzing airlocks and panting endurance runners.
“PTO Championship” is the name of the show that sets new standards in triathlon. PTO stands for Professional Triathletes Organization, an association of the best professionals, funded by two US investment firms. Their goal: more appreciation, more resonance and more money for the professionals, as the stars of the scene are called in jargon. The PTO made a spectacular appearance for the first time shortly after its founding in 2019, when it failed in an attempt to buy the Ironman brand.
Now he is organizing a superlative competition, embedded in a rigid crown protection concept. Athletes and helpers are picked up at Daytona Airport, tested and taken to two hotels near the sealed freeway, where they live for a week.
On Sunday 120 selected triathletes will start on 2km of swimming, 80km of cycling and 18km of running, including Nicola Spirig, Andrea Salvisberg, Ruedi Wild and Philipp Koutny from Switzerland. Only Hawaii winners Daniela Ryf, Jan Frodeno and Patrick Lange are missing from the first cracks. For the first time, the short and long distance elites meet. In short: Daytona is the race of the year and the most popular in the history of triathlon.
Hot as french fries
This is also due to the prize pool, which even belittles the Hawaiian myth. A fabulous $ 1.2 million is being offered, an astronomical figure for triathletes. The winner collects $ 100,000, including the last $ 2,500.
Roger Federer stretches a rope for such peanuts, but triathletes look like a gold mine, especially in the epidemic year that has almost entrenched triathlon. Former Hawaii winner Sebastian Kienle (De) says, on behalf of many, it’s “hot as fries” – for the competition, the best and the money “you can make the season” with.
Nicola Spirig minimizes the interesting cash prize, for her the race serves “as a motivation to train with good quality in view of the Olympics”. The truth is probably somewhere in between, in the words of Canadian Lionel Sanders: “If you run only for the money, you will be destroyed.”
Professionals agree on the location. “Perfect for our sport”, is the tenor, in the temple of motorsport there is “a great atmosphere”. Philipp Koutny talks about “revolution” and raves about “new approaches and a spectacular way”. Indeed, the championship promises to be an event: a sizzling three-hour quickie instead of endless loneliness like in Hawaii.
Drama, Baby, Drama!
The swim is in Lake Lloyd, within the 115 hectare freeway. On the ultra-flat but windy cycle course (20 laps of 4 kilometers each) and during the race (four laps of 4.5 kilometers each), the speed is hammered until the asphalt lights up. You expect record times, ruthless duels and drama, baby, drama! Some people will count the wrong turns, ignore the 20m draft rule, ruin the catering and power – and go under in the face of ever-present competition.
Who will win the “Thrilla of Daytona”? The men’s race is like a lucky bag. With the women Spirig is one of the favorites, even if she is deeply rooted: “I prefer the hilly stretches, but I do my best and see what comes out”. So, good luck on the million dollar treasure hunt!
PTO Championship in Daytona / Florida. Livestream Sundays on Ard.de from 16:00 CET (women) and 20:00 (men).
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