Search
shop

Holly Lawrence provides debrief on ‘pretty brutal’ day at PTO European Open

British star reflects on last Saturday in Ibiza
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Holly Lawrence hopes to come back stronger at the PTO US Open in August after a tough day out in Ibiza at the inaugural PTO European Open.

The Brit, who finished 10th in Ibiza, hasn’t been at her best so far this season after a move from LA to Boulder, and she admits there is still some trial and error when coming down from altitude to race.

The PTO World #8, who last won a middle distance race at IRONMAN 70.3 Des Moines in 2021, was adamant that despite a rough ride in Ibiza, the PTO Tour is where her ambitions lie.

Advertisement

“Death March” in Ibiza

Lawrence, who for so long has been known as one of the punchiest riders in the sport, struggled to stick with the pace on two wheels in Ibiza, as she was outbiked by more than half the field.

Holly Lawrence bike Collins Cup 2022 photo credit PTO
[Photo credit: PTO]

“It was pretty brutal to be honest, I wasn’t having fun on the bike, it was a slog from a lap in, I was thinking how do I finish this bike ride and planned to just make it to transition and call it a day.

“However, I saw Daniela [Ryf] just up ahead and thought okay, worse comes to worse I can do an 18km death march. It got a little bit better and I started to pick off a few people but overall a little disappointing.”

Considering how she felt on the day, a 10th-place finish at the top level of racing is no mean feat, but for an athlete with Lawrence’s ambitions, it falls short of the mark she would have set herself after sixth and fourth at the Canadian and US Open last year respectively.

“The PTO is the future”

Despite the disappointing result, Lawrence shared that the PTO US Open in Milwaukee was her next target, as the US based athlete doubled down on her commitment to the PTO Tour

“It was such a stacked field, in May, but I hope I can just build throughout the year and not have more days like this.

“Having stacked fields, a tour like all the other pro sports have throughout the year, is just something we have to get used to and adjust for, as we all kind of believe having the PTO is the future.

“I am still figuring out when to come down from altitude and I think I haven’t figured it out yet, so I think I am going to try maybe within 2-3 days coming down for Milwaukee and see how that is.” 

Between now and Milwaukee, Lawrence plans on training hard and getting fit, but added that a race close to her base in Colorado could be on the calendar.

“The season is long, it is early, I think I might race IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder but apart from that it is just about getting back into training now for me really.”

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...