This is a preview piece for the PTO Tour US Open, which was won in commanding fashion by American Taylor Knibb.

After being held in the scorching heat of Dallas last year, the 2023 PTO Tour US Open will now take place in Milwaukee, with the best in the world heading Stateside to compete over the 100km distance and compete for the $100k first prize.

Whilst PTO Tour European Open winner Anne Haug is unable to make the trip to Wisconsin, Ashleigh Gentle will look to keep her PTO podium streak alive and defend her US Open title from last year, where she cemented her position as one of the best over the 100km distance.

We have all the information you need for the women’s race in Milwaukee, including start times, how to watch live and a full rundown of the athletes to watch on Saturday.

Start time and how to watch live

The women will race on Saturday August 5, with the action kicking off at 1615 local time. That is 1715 on the East Coast (and 1415 PST), 2215 in the UK and 2315 CET.

In Europe the race will be broadcast live on Eurosport, with global coverage also available via the new PTO+ app and a range of global broadcast partners and streaming services. Full details of those HERE on the PTO website.

Or if you are outside of Europe you can watch the official broadcast live below, without leaving TRI247:

Which Pro Women are racing at the PTO US Open?

Defending champion Ashleigh Gentle, who managed to salvage a podium at the PTO Tour European Open despite a rocky start to the season, looks to be back in the box seat and cannot be counted out ahead of the action in Milwaukee this week.

The Aussie, who most recently won IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra, seems to be coming into form at just the right moment this year. Facing a weaker field than the one she took on in Ibiza, it seems the win is hers for the taking over her favoured distance, as long as she can hold off the home talent.

American Taylor Knibb, quite possibly one of the most versatile athletes in the sport along with Canadian Paula Findlay, who is also on the start list, is a real threat. Knibb, second behind Gentle last year, can put the pressure on the Aussie early on with a deadly swim-bike combo, which may well set up an enthralling cat-and-mouse chase on the run.

The aforementioned Findlay, who will jet off to represent Team Canada at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow after racing in Milwaukee, has also finished second to Gentle at past PTO Tour events and can never be counted out. After a strong domestic season with a mix of triathlon and time trialling, the Alberta native has the tools to get on the podium in Wisconsin.

Elsewhere on the start list, Britain’s Holly Lawrence and Kat Matthews are accustomed to challenging for the podium at this level, with Challenge ‘The Championship’ winner India Lee now joining them as another British pro with the capacity to mix it up at the front of the biggest races.

Canadian Tamara Jewett and French World Long Course Champion Marjolaine Pierre are two women who can cause problems on the run if they come off the bike in contention, with IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside Jewett in particular seemingly well suited to this distance.

Finally, South African Jeanni Metzler has showed in the past she can compete at this level, marking her down as just one of the many athletes in Milwaukee who could emerge as a dark horse for a big performance. Likewise, if she plays her cards right, emerging British star Lucy Byram could also challenge up near the front of the field.

Prize Money: What’s on the line? 

Nobody will go home empty handed from Milwaukee, with the $600,000 prize purse paying up to 30 athletes deep.

The race winner will collect $100,000, with a top-10 finish being rewarded with a minimum of $5,500, and 20th still earning $2,500. The full prize breakdown is as follows:

• 1. $100,000
• 2. $50,000
• 3. $35,000
• 4. $15,000
• 5. $10,000
• 6. $8,000
• 7. $7,000
• 8. $6,500
• 9. $6,000
• 10. $5,500
• 11. $5,000
• 12. $4,500
• 13. $4,000
• 14, $3,500
• 15, $3,000
• 16. $3,000
• 17. $3,000
• 18. $3,000
• 19. $3,000
• 20. $2,500
• 21. $2,500
• 22. $2,500
• 23. $2,500
• 24. $2,500
• 25. $2,500
• 26. $2,000
• 27. $2,000
• 28. $2,000
• 29. $2,000
• 30. $2,000

As we consistently highlight, thanks to the formation of the Professional Triathletes Organisation, financial rewards from performance are not solely from on-the-day performances.

The PTO World Rankings in 2022 saw a total of $2million awarded, based up on the final standings in those points tables. The rewards there can be substantial, with a move up or down the rankings system potentially earning you more than any individual event.

In 2023, the distribution of the end of year bonus has not yet been announced, but it has been confirmed that the money will be shared amongst the top-50, instead of the top-100 as it was in 2022.