Strong women’s field announced for PTO European Open

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has announced who’ll be racing in the women’s race at the inaugural PTO European Open next month, and there are some big names on the list.

Taking place on Saturday 6 May in Ibiza, Spain, the event is set to kick off the 2023 PTO Tour, which will also visit Milwaukee and Singapore in August for the US and Asian Opens.

The course will see athletes compete over a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run.

So who’s going to be going head to head under the sun next month?

Well, who isn’t!? Reigning Ironman World Champion Chelsea Sodaro (USA) will be there, as will four-time runner up and British fan favourite Lucy Charles-Barclay.

Also toeing the line will be five-time Ironman world champ Daniela Ryf (SUI), 2022 top PTO-ranked woman Anne Haug (GER) and current No1, Ashleigh Gentle (AUS).

There’ll be an impressive array of British athletes on show, too. Joining Charles-Barclay will be Kat Matthews, who took an impressive bronze at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside last week in her first race back after the car crash that derailed the end of her season in 2022.

Holly Lawrence, Emma Pallant-Browne, Fenella Langridge, India Lee and Lucy Byram round out the strong British contingent.

And if that’s not enough talent for us to enjoy watching, we’ll also be able to see the likes of Paula Findlay (CAN), Laura Phillip (GER), Lisa Norden (SWE), Ellie Salthouse (AUS), Ironman 70.3 Oceanside winner Tamara Jewett (CAN) and a handful of other fantastic athletes competing for honours. View the full list here.

There’ll also be a further four wildcards announced on Thursday, so watch this space to find out who else will be added to that list.

The men’s field has also been announced and it’s going to be one hell of a race.

Top image credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for Ironman

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Rob Slade

About

Rob Slade was 220 Triathlon's Content Editor between April 2021 and September 2024, but still contributes occasionally. He was previously editor of Adventure Travel magazine and has been testing gear for 10 years. Always up for an adventure, he's motivated by good views and regularly uses the scenery as an excuse for taking so long to complete events. While he may lack speed, he always retains his positive disposition, probably because he knows a pint will be waiting for him at the end.