With the big-money Collins Cup, the Tokyo Olympics, Kona and a season-ending Ironman 70.3 worlds, 2020’s schedule of pro triathlon races could be the hottest ever.
This year’s stellar line-up of pro triathlon races means 2020 is a great year to be a triathlon fan! In fact, there’s so much to look forward to that we had a hard time whittling down the contenders. We’ve got the new flagship Collins Cup event with its $2m payday, two showings at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the ITU Grand Final in Canada, the Big Dance in Kona and an intriguing switch of schedule that puts the Ironman 70.3 world champs at the end of the season.
Add in a host of other classic races across all distances, the return of Alistair Brownlee (GBR), Javier Gomez (ESP) and Flora Duffy (BER) to ITU racing and the fascinating ongoing dominance of Jan Frodeno (GER) and Daniela Ryf (SUI) and we’re in for some spectacular action.
So, whether you’re new to watching the pro sport or just want to get these tentpole events onto your calendar, here is our pick of 11 unmissable pro triathlon races for 2020.
ITU WTS Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi, UAE – 6 March
The official start of the ITU World Triathlon Series – the top level of draft-legal racing – will once again take place in Abu Dhabi. Here we’ll have our first chance to evaluate the form of the Olympic favourites – even if their trip to the UAE will see them racing over the sprint distance.
With so many athletes on the male podium in 2019, this year could be just as open. Or maybe we’ll see a new rising star to challenge current World Champion Vincent Luis (FRA). Perhaps there will even be the return of two dominant figures in the form of both Javier Gomez and Alistair Brownlee.
Meanwhile, world champ Katie Zaferes (USA) will have to contend with the comeback of Flora Duffy (BER), who’s sure to be one of the favourites for Tokyo, and the ever-improving Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) – both superb runners.
The following day, we’ll also get to see the first Mixed Relay competition of the year, prompting more Olympic speculation as the triathlon world readies itself for the first inclusion of this format at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this August.
Collins Cup – Samorin, Slovakia – 29-30 May
A completely new race with a totally new format and an astonishing $2m athlete purse that’s awarded based on PTO rankings rather than winners on the day, the Collins Cup’s first showing could cement its spot on the list of all-time classic events.
Named after the originators of the Hawaii Ironman, the Collins Cup takes its cues from Golf’s Ryder Cup with teams from Europe, the US and the rest of the world doing battle in Samorin, Slovakia, for the sport’s biggest payday. Run by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), the Collins Cup has been a long time coming, but we’ll finally have the chance to see some of the world’s best in action over a new format this May.
We’ll get to see 12 individual races – each starting 10 minutes apart – with three athletes per race going head-to-head-to-head over a half-iron distance course to win points. The team with the most points takes home the trophy while the losers are burdened with the ‘Broken Spoke’.
Collins Cup teams are captained by legends of the sport such as Mark Allen (USA), Craig Alexander (Internationals) and Chrissie Wellington (Europe) while athletes are selected by their PTO ranking – meaning some of the best pros in the sport with make up the teams.
Challenge The Championship – Samorin, Slovakia – 31 May
Taking place the very next day after the Collins Cup, The Championship is the Challenge Family’s flagship middle-distance event. Since launching in 2017, it’s courted big names including Lionel Sanders, Sebastian Kienle (GER) and undefeated three-time winner Lucy Charles (GBR).
How the Collins Cup, being the day before, will affect the pro field at The Championship this year remains to be seen, but it’s offered fast and exciting racing to date with great online coverage.
Ironman Frankfurt – Frankfurt, Germany – 28 June
The Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt lives up to its name with many of the continent’s top long-distance pros – and a few others making the trip from the US – going head to head in what’s usually the strongest male and female field outside of Kona.
Last year Jan Frodeno destroyed his competitors, which was the sign of things to come in October, although he is racing in Roth this year, so we could see another future Kona winner take victory here. The women’s race has also seen plenty of superstars take the win – as well as breakthrough races, such as Skye Moench (USA) in 2019.
Challenge Roth – Roth, Germany – 5 July
Regularly described as the biggest long-distance triathlon in the world, Challenge Roth holds a special place in many athletes’ hearts thanks to its incredible atmosphere and fast course.
Both the men’s and women’s iron-distance records have been made there – Jan Frodeno’s 7:35:39 in 2016 and Chrissie Wellington’s 8:18:13 in 2011. This year, Frodeno is returning to Roth along with fellow 2019 Kona winner Anne Haug (GER) so expect these two champions to draw out other big stars to join them.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Triathlon – Tokyo, Japan – 27-28 July
Four years of single-minded determination, hard training and pure desire come together on one day for each athlete who’s earned the chance to represent their country at the Olympic Games. Both the men’s and women’s races promise to provide exceptional racing. While the course might not feature the hilly profile seen four years earlier in Rio, the 35°C heat and 90 percent humidity will certainly affect the outcome.
The women’s race will surely see a showdown between current ITU World Champion Katie Zaferes and former champ Flora Duffy returning to form after injury. That pair are odds-on to form an early breakaway with Jessica Learmonth (GBR) who could be in with a chance of medalling if they stay away. Meanwhile, the fleetfooted Georgia Taylor-Brown and Cassandre Beaugrand are also likely to factor in the final outcome.
The men’s race is wide open. Three-time world champ Mario Mola (ESP) will be hoping to make the bike pack to set himself up for a pure running race where Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) could be his fiercest competitor. Then there’s the relentless powerhouse that is Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), who’ll likely drag the second swim pack up to the front.
Current ITU World Champion Vincent Luis will be the top pick for many while fellow all-rounders Henri Schoeman (RSA) and Jonny Brownlee (GBR) will both be seeking to go one better than their respective bronze and silver medals in Rio. Finally, there’s the return of two all-time greats in Alistair Brownlee and Javier Gomez – the former seeking a third consecutive Olympic gold and the latter hoping to finally have his day in the sun on the sport’s biggest stage.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Mixed Team Relay – Tokyo, Japan – 1 August
This is the first time that the triathlon mixed relay has been included in the Olympics and as if that didn’t provide enough excitement, there’s also the fact that we’ve no idea how the athletes will perform after the physical and mental hardships of the individual race a few days before.
Perhaps we’ll see dominance continue for the medal-getters or maybe those who missed out will race out of their skins in the hopes of salvaging a medal in their Olympic campaign. Whatever happens, it’s undoubtedly a must-watch event on this year’s calendar.
ITU Grand Final – Edmonton, Canada – 22-23 August
Olympic-distance athletes will have a few short weeks to recover themselves before heading to the World Triathlon Grand Final in Edmonton Canada.
In an Olympic year, don’t be surprised to see a breakout performance from a rising star already setting their sights on 2024 while the old guard take a break, use the final as a victory lap or start to concentrate on longer-distance ambitions.
Super League Singapore – August (TBC)
After Super League’s hiatus to accommodate the Olympic year between October 2019 and the 2020 ITU Grand Final, the sport’s most entertaining series of super sprint, mixed-format events are set to return to Singapore in August.
Reigning champions and series leaders Katie Zaferes and Vincent Luis could well be returning with Olympic gold but there are always a few wildcards and underdogs in there to keep everyone guessing. Super League will then move on to Jersey and Malta while a further two events are TBC before the end of 2020.
Ironman World Championship – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 10 October
The highlight of any true triathlon fan’s calendar, the ‘Big Dance’ on Hawaii’s Big Island always brings together the very best long-course athletes at the top of their game to fight it out against each other in the pressure cooker of Kona coast’s legendary heat and humidity.
Can Jan Frodeno take his fourth title after smashing the course record in 2019 or will a new contender arise? Will Daniela Ryf be back to her best and win for fifth time or is Anne Haug just starting her residency as the world’s number one? And will Lucy Charles finally make the leap to the podium’s top step?
Kona has so many stories and subplots that despite its eight-hour-plus runtime it always makes for a riveting watch – especially with the continually improving coverage from Ironman. So put on your grass skirts, grab a cocktail and hit the sofa – or even the indoor trainer – to take in the world’s best at the world’s greatest race.
Ironman 70.3 World Championship – Taupo, New Zealand – 28-29 November
The Ironman 70.3 world champs is the only event that brings together world-class fields from both the ITU and Ironman ranks as well as middle-distance specialists – making it one of, if not the, most hotly contested races in the year.
There’s plenty of added interest for the 2020 edition too. The 70.3 worlds usually take place before Kona, so holding the event in Taupo, New Zealand this November not only shakes things up for the athletes but also gives us something to look forward to when we’d normally be feeling the post-Kona lull.
Without the fear of over-racing before Kona, we’re likely to see an influx of super-fit long-course pros making the trip for one last hit out while Javier Gomez has announced that Taupo is his main post-Olympics aim, where he’s sure to face off against rivals Jan Frodeno, Alistair Brownlee defending champ Gustav Iden (NOR).
With the Olympics dashing the dreams of the majority of the field in Tokyo, we’re bound to see some more ITU stars make the switch to long-distance racing in Taupo. So, Daniela Ryf won’t just have the already-qualified Flora Duffy to contend with but a selection of the world’s fasted short-course racers too – all hoping to end 2020 on a high.
How To Watch Pro Triathlon
For ITU racing, there’s nothing better than TriathlonLive.TV, the official source of live ITU action on the web. For a very reasonable subscription, you get all the ITU WTS races along with World Cup coverage and enough replays of past events to keep you entertained on the indoor trainer for months.
Gone are the days of patchy Ironman coverage – through Ironman Now on Facebook, you can watch a whole host of live races each year. With great commentators, great quality video and not an ad in sight, it’s the only choice for any M-dot race.
Like Ironman, Challenge has upped its game when it comes to live coverage with both Challenge Roth and The Championship getting top production and expert commentary. We’re expecting the Collins Cup to be just as well served too. You may have to hunt a little more on the individual race websites to find the streams, but once you’re there, you’ll be hooked.
Needless to say, it’ll be harder avoiding the Olympics this summer than watching it with sport’s biggest festival of performance being shown in over 200 countries. The men’s Olympic Triathlon takes place on Monday, 27 July 7:30am Tokyo time with the women’s event following on Tuesday 28 July at 7:30am. The Mixed Team Relay is just a few days later on Saturday 1 August at 8:30am.
