Search
shop

PTO 2020 Championship Prize Money increased to over $1million

Already $1million, today the Professional Triathletes Organisation has boosted the prize purse for the PTO 2020 Championship by an additional $150k
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

$1,150,000 now on the line at Challenge Daytona

ALL qualified athletes will now earn a minimum of $2,500

The Professional Triathletes Organisation cheque book will be working overtime over the coming weeks, with news of an additional $150,000 added to the prize purse for their PTO 2020 Championship at Challenge Daytona on early December.

This is not ‘making the rich, richer’ however, with all of this additional funding going to athletes finishing outside of the top-20, providing a guarantee that all qualified athletes for this event will now not go home empty-handed.

This announcement also confirms that the top prize in Daytona will be $100,000. While that is lower than the $120,000 winners have received in Kona in recent years, the total prize pot is now a full half a million dollars more that the corresponding IRONMAN World Championship total ($650,000). Comparing to the 70.3 World Champs over the middle distance, the prize totals in recent years have been $250,000, with a top prize of $45,000 to the winners.

While our sport is not used to ‘everyone’ being paid, consider that a first round ‘loser’ at Wimbledon in 2019 was awarded £45,000 (approaching $60,000). A positive step forward.


PROFESSIONAL TRIATHLETES ORGANISATION ANNOUNCES
$150,000 INCREASE TO PRIZE PURSE
AT PTO 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP

The Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced that it has increased the prize purse at the PTO 2020 Championship at CHALLENGEDAYTONA® by $150,000 to $1,150,000. Originally the $1,000,000 prize purse was to be paid to the top 20 male and female finishers but given that the racing calendar for the year has been entirely decimated, the PTO has decided that all athletes who have qualified and race will receive no less than $2,500 each. The prize purse breakdown ranges from $100,000 for first place to $4,000 for 20th place and each athlete placed from 21st to 60th will receive $2,500. The full prize purse breakdown can be found here.

Charles Adamo, Executive Chairman of the PTO commented, “With the entire race season pretty much cancelled and with athletes having practically no earning opportunities and receiving little support from elsewhere, the PTO has decided that anyone who has qualified and races at the PTO 2020 Championship should receive some compensation. We had previously committed to paying twenty deep, which was already twice the number of athletes earning prize money than at a typical championship race. With the professionals continuing to receive little support this year, we could not in good conscience ask athletes to travel to the race and then, like too often happens, walk away with nothing but a big travel bill. That is not the way the PTO treats valued partners. With many sports, including our own, cancelling events and looking to decrease prize purses or cut payments to athletes, we see this as the time to invest in our PTO Professionals. It is a very simple formula-the PTO is the professionals’ organisation and it thrives when they thrive.”

The PTO 2020 Championship at CHALLENGEDAYTONA® will be the highlight of a difficult year and will see the world’s top triathletes competing for a $1,150,000 prize purse. With the top 40 PTO World Ranked athletes and the PTO wildcard selections, the field for the PTO 2020 Championship will be the strongest ever assembled.

There are still places available for the age group events at CHALLENGEDAYTONA® and those interested can register here.


For more news on the Professional Triathletes Organisation, Rankings, Collins Cup and more, check out our dedicated section on the site HERE.

Professional Triathletes Organisation
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Georgia Taylor Brown Santa Vall gravel race 2025 photo credit Santa Vall and Gravel Earth Series
Kate Waugh and Georgia Taylor-Brown among strong British line-up at T100 London
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...