On Sunday 24 July it will be the men’s turn to do battle for a share of the $1m prize purse on offer as well as a 10% PTO points bonus on offer – a factor that could prove crucial as the event is also the last qualifying race for this year’s Collins Cup. This year’s Collins Cup qualification could prove even more competitive than last year’s so every point is going to fought for tooth and nail.
PTO World #1 Kristian Blummenfelt is the highest-ranked athlete set to start and will be joined by his Norwegian counterpart, colleague and competitor Gustav Iden (PTO World #2). This will be the first time that the two get to battle it out in a long-distance setting having previously chosen different races to each other or mechanical issues putting a stop to any all-out racing.
The Norwegian pair will also have the likes of the lion Lionel Sanders (PTO World #3) to contend with over the 100km course and he is hungry to take the Norwegians down a peg or two. Then comes a flurry of European stars all of whom will be targeting a spot of Team Europe at The Collins Cup; Daniel Bækkegård (PTO World #5), Patrick Lange (PTO World #10) Magnus Ditlev (PTO World #11) and Joe Skipper (PTO World #13).
Also joining the European party in Edmonton is none other than Sebastian Kienle (PTO World #33), in what will be his final year racing as a pro Sebi has chosen the PTO Canadian Open as one of his top priority races to go out with a bang!
Then in the US camp the likes of Matt Hanson (PTO World #8) Ben Kanute (PTO World #16), Rudy Von Berg (PTO World #18) and Jason West (PTO World #24) join the parade of stars and stripes in Edmonton all keen to make an impression on their next-door neighbours!
Last and by no means least come the International athletes, including those Canadians who have the home turf advantage! Jackson Laundry (PTO World #15) joins Sanders in the lineup of Canadians who get to race at home, cheered on by their home crowds from the grandstands. Other International athletes include Sam Appleton (PTO World #22), Kyle Smith (PTO World #23) and Matt Trautman (PTO World #32) all of whom will be ready to show their strength on the day as well as to prove themselves worthy of a Collins Cup spot.
MALE PRO:
KRISTIAN BLUMMENFELT NOR
GUSTAV IDEN NOR
LIONEL SANDERS CAN
ALISTAIR BROWNLEE GBR
MATT HANSON USA
JOE SKIPPER GBR
JACKSON LAUNDRY CAN
BEN KANUTE USA
KRISTIAN HOGENHAUG DEN
SAM LAIDLOW FRA
DAVID MCNAMEE GBR
MAX NEUMANN AUS
SAMUEL APPLETON AUS
KYLE SMITH NZL
REINALDO COLUCCI BRA
JASON WEST USA
FREDERIC FUNK GER
MIKI MOERCK TAAGHOLT DEN
CLEMENT MIGNON FRA
SEBASTIAN KIENLE GER
BART AERNOUTS BEL
COLLIN CHARTIER USA
ANDRE LOPES BRA
THOMAS STEGER AUT
TIM VAN BERKEL AUS
PABLO DAPENA ESP
FILIPE AZEVEDO POR
ANDREW STARYKOWICZ USA
PIETER HEEMERYCK BEL
ERIC LAGERSTROM USA
YOURI KEULEN NED
KYLE BUCKINGHAM ZAF
STEVEN MCKENNA AUS
JACK MOODY NZL
BRENT MCMAHON CAN
AARON ROYLE AUS
JASON POHL CAN
HENRI SCHOEMAN ZAF
MATTHEW SHARPE CAN
MATTHEW MCELROY USA