Alistair Brownlee given wild card for PTO European Open, Jan Frodeno and Ashleigh Gentle also feature

Britain’s Alistair Brownlee has been given a wild card for the PTO European Open, with men’s and women’s world No. 1s Kristian Blummenfelt and Ashleigh Gentle also featuring on the start list.

The inaugural edition of the event is to be held in Ibiza, and – hosted alongside the 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships – will feature men’s and women’s 100km races, containing a 2km swim, 80km on the bike and an 18km run.

Brownlee, who won individual triathlon gold at both the London and Rio summer Olympics, withdrew from the Ironman South Africa event last month with a sore hip but will compete next month in Spain.

The contest between Blummenfelt and triathlon legend Jan Frodeno will also be much anticipated, as will the presence of Australian Cameron Wurf, who is also a support rider for Ineos Grenadiers.

Blummenfelt said: “Finishing top of the 2022 PTO World Rankings was something I was very proud of and I’ll be trying to repeat in 2023.

“But having missed out on winning a PTO Open last year, that is something I definitely want to add to my resume.”

PTO CEO Sam Renouf added: “There have been a lot of column inches and social posts about Jan’s return to racing this year and this match-up with Kristian and Alistair, so it’s great to finally confirm it and be able to look forward to what we all hope will be fantastic day of racing in the inaugural PTO European Open.”

Gentle, opening up on her preparation for the event, said: “I have had a consistent summer down here in Australia and the training has been going well, but I know the competition for podium places is going to be really intense in Ibiza.

“It’s going to make for some thrilling racing and I’m excited to get to the start line and get the PTO Tour underway.”

MEN’S START LIST

• Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
• Magnus Ditlev (DEN)
• Sam Laidlow (FRA)
• Max Neumann (AUS)
• Leon Chevalier (FRA)
• Florian Angert (GER)
• Frederic Funk (GER)
• Aaron Royle (AUS)
• Patrick Lange (GER)
• Daniel Baekkegard (DEN)
• Ben Kanute (USA)
• Miki Moerck Taagholt (DEN)
• Bradley Weiss (USA)
• Jason West (USA)
• Pieter Heemeryck (BEL)
• Kristian Hogenhaug (DEN)
• Thomas Bishop (GBR)
• Gregory Barnaby (ITA)
• Rudy Von Berg (USA)
• Kyle Smith (NZL)
• Mathias Lyngsoe Peterson (DEN)
• Ben Hoffman (USA)
• David McNamee (GBR)
• Filipe Azevedo (POR)
• Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
• Jan Frodeno (GER)
• Cam Wurf (AUS)
• Justus Nieschlag (GER)

WOMEN’S START LIST

• Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR)
• Paula Findlay (CAN)
• Daniela Ryf (SWI)
• Anne Haug (GER)
• Chelsea Sodaro (US)
• Laura Philipp (GER)
• Holly Lawrence (GBR)
• Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR)
• Lisa Norden (SWE)
• Fenella Langridge (GBR)
• Kat Matthews (GBR)
• Jocelyn McCauley (US)
• Tamara Jewett (CAN)
• Sara Perez Sala (ESP)
• Ellie Salthouse (AUS)
• Daniela Bleymehl (GER)
• Grace Thek (AUS)
• India Lee (GBR)
• Lucy Byram (GBR)
• Rebecca Clarke (NZL)
• Lusia Baptista (BRA)
• Lotte Wilms (NED)
• Barbara Riveros (CHI)
• Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN)
• Els Visser (NED)
• Sif Madsen (DEN)
• Anne Reischmann (GER)
• Amelia Watkinson (NZL)

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