The Professional Triathletes Organization recently announced that it will provide a $20,000 professional prize purse for the Great Floridian Triathlon on October 24th, 2020 at Clermont in Florida. In addition to this, a spot for the PTO 2020 Championship at CHALLENGE DAYTONA® will be awarded to the highest placed male and female professional who is not otherwise already qualified.
Charles Adamo, Executive Chairman of PTO commented, “Our PTO Professionals continue to reach out and look to see how they can support our triathlon community in these difficult times. With the help and guidance of USA Triathlon, the PTO is pleased to be able to support the Great Floridian Triathlon with a $20,000 prize purse.
We are grateful to USAT and race director Fred Sommer and his Great Floridian team. Their hard work in these difficult times is a tribute to the spirit of resolve and resilience for which our sport is so famous and it is a joy for the PTO to work together with both governing bodies and independent race organizers to make our sport better”.
Adamo continued, “We are pleased to announce that the highest placed male and female professionals not already qualified for the $1,000,000 PTO 2020 Championship will each earn a place, joining the world’s top triathletes in the biggest race of 2020. With the top 40 PTO World Ranked athletes and the wildcard selections, the field for the PTO 2020 Championship will be the strongest field ever assembled for our sport. This gives some athletes who just missed out on qualifying one last chance to be on the starting line.”
Fred Sommer, Great Floridian race director stated, “The Great Floridian Triathlon is the people’s race where athletes always come first. We are thrilled to be able to put on a full schedule of races this season when so many others have been canceled. I’m looking forward to providing a safe and well-organized race for the professionals in conjunction with the existing age group events. Thank you to the PTO for choosing to support the professional portion of this event.”
Tim O’Donnell PTO Board Member commented, “We are elated that PTO Professionals are leading the way in uniting to support our triathlon community. It has been a privilege to work with the Great Floridian Triathlon Race Director, Fred Sommers, to provide another racing opportunity for the triathlon professionals in the United States. As a result of the efforts and funding by the PTO, we have been able to create our own opportunities during this time in an effort to thrive in our craft. The Great Floridian Triathlon will give many professionals one last opportunity to race in Florida before the PTO 2020 Championship and we are grateful to both USAT and The Great Floridian Triathlon for this opportunity”.
The Great Floridian Triathlon forms part of a multisport festival with more than a dozen events over the weekend to suit all levels and is the perfect destination event just minutes away from Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.
The unique three-lap format allows for a 1/3 and 2/3 distance triathlon in addition to the full 140.6 distance, which is the 2020 USA Triathlon National Ultra-Distance Championship and the longest-running independent full distance triathlon in the country.
The 1/3 Great Floridian Triathlon, which consists of a 0.8-mile swim, 40-mile bike, and a 9-mile run is the chosen distance for the professional race.
The single-lap swim takes place in the pristine waters of Lake Minneola, the third largest lake in the Clermont Chain of Lakes and designated “Outstanding Florida Waters” by the State of Florida. The 40-mile bike course takes in Sugarloaf Mountain and at 300 feet above sea level delivers a challenging half-mile climb to the top. The run course is a one-lap flat and scenic out and back course on the South Lake Trail finishing at Victory Pointe.
There are still places available for all the events at the Great Floridian Triathlon and those interested can find out more at https://www.GreatFloridian.com
