Two quick updates for the PTO World Rankings have seen some significant moves as time runs out for athletes to lock in their end-of-season bonus.
The first revision factored in the results from IRONMAN Israel and on the men’s side German Patrick Lange jumped back into the top 10 following his win which was rounded off by a stunning 2:30 marathon.
He leapt up 28 places to #6 but has now dropped a spot after the second update following IRONMAN Western Australia, with home victor Max Neumann moving from #7 to #4.
It still means that Lange’s 2022 payout as things stand is up to $45,000 from $5,000 while the difference to Neumann is $45,000 transformed into $70,000.
On the women’s side, Ruth Astle’s Israel win took her from #38 to #17 and the sixth British woman inside the top 20, though she’s now slipped slightly to #19.
That’s because IRONMAN Western Australia winner Sarah Crowley (AUS) jumps from #25 to #17 while CLASH Daytona third Julie Derron (SUI) is up three places to #18.
The PTO Rankings process
Here is how the PTO Ranking process changes during the calendar year.
There is a period up to the Collins Cup 2022 qualification (late July), during which World Rankings are calculated on the basis of an extended (circa 21 months) period. And it then switches to a 52-week rolling basis. Specifically, extracted from the PTO’s own explanation:
Rankings Changes from January 1, 2022, to August 20. From January 1, 2022, until the August 20, 2022, rankings will be based on the average number of World Rankings Points an athlete has earned in their best three races in the period beginning December 1, 2020, and ending August 20, 2022; provided, however, from July 24 an athlete must count at least one race that occurred after January 1, 2022.
Ranking Changes from August 2022. Beginning on the completion of the Collins Cup on August 21, 2022, the PTO World Rankings will be based on a 52-week rolling period, with the final PTO World Rankings based on the average number of World Ranking Points an Athlete has earned for their three best races during the calendar year of 2022 and the PTO Annual bonuses will be paid based on the PTO World Rankings as so calculated on December 31, 2022.
Bottom line is this – once we get to the year-end PTO World Rankings (which determines your cut of the $2million prize pot), the only thing that will matter, is your best three scores achieved in 2022.
How do the PTO Rankings work?
This is not just about kudos – the athletes are fighting it out for a bonus pool worth a cool $2million in the ‘Race For The Rankings’. This will be dished out based on rankings at the end of 2022.
Each athlete has a points total which is an average of their three best races during the ranking period.
Without becoming too technical and explaining the algorithm in detail, an athlete’s score for a single race is based around their time – and not finishing position. The base is 100 points and the variance below or above depends on their time compared to what the PTO calls the ‘Ideal Time’ for that specific race.
As for which races are points-eligible, within reason it brings in any non-drafting race which has at least a minimum professional prize pool and is greater than Olympic distance.
Current PTO Rankings – Men
The leading men – as of December 31, 2022 – are as follows:
- 1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) 118.79
- 2. Gustav Iden (NOR) 116.41
- 3. Magnus Ditlev (DEN) 114.97
- 4. Max Neumann (AUS) 109.65
- 5. Sam Laidlow (FRA) 109.34
- 6. Lionel Sanders (CAN) 105.60
- 7. Patrick Lange (GER) 105.01
- 8. Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 103.74
- 9. Joe Skipper (GBR) 103.43
- 10. Sam Long (USA) 103.40
- 11. Daniel Bækkegård (DEN) 102.82
- 12. Ben Kanute (USA) 102.69
- 13. Leon Chevalier (FRA) 100.49
- 14. Florian Angert (GER) 100.38
- 15. Matt Hanson (USA) 99.94
- 16. Collin Chartier (USA) 99.13
- 17. Braden Currie (NZL) 98.70
- 18. Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) 97.14
- 19. Rudy Von Berg (USA) 96.13
- 20. Denis Chevrot (FRA) 96.02
Current PTO Rankings – Women
The leading women – as of December 31, 2022 – are as follows:
- 1. Anne Haug (GER) 117.06
- 2. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 115.32
- 3. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 113.54
- 4. Taylor Knibb (USA) 112.95
- 5. Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) 109.61
- 6. Laura Philipp (GER) 109.38
- 7. Chelsea Sodaro (USA) 108.72
- 8. Paula Findlay (CAN) 106.12
- 9. Kat Matthews (GBR) 105.08
- 10. Sarah True (USA) 101.48
- 11. Skye Moench (USA) 98.93
- 12. Holly Lawrence (GBR) 98.44
- 13. Fenella Langridge (GBR) 98.26
- 14. Lisa Norden (SWE) 96.14
- 15. Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) 95.18
- 16. Jocelyn McCauley (USA) 93.23
- 17. Sarah Crowley (AUS) 93.20
- 18. Julie Derron (SUI) 92.92
- 19. Ruth Astle (GBR) 92.46
- 20. Flora Duffy (BER) 92.45
PTO 2022 Race For The Rankings
Like we said, the PTO will dish out $2million at the end of the year based on the final rankings positions of pro athletes.
Final PTO Rankings for 2020
2020 was the first year that PTO implemented their Year End Annual Bonus Programme, to be based upon the PTO Rankings, eligible for the top-100 ranked athletes. Initially set at $2million, the impact of the COVID pandemic saw that paid out early – and with the total topped up to $2.5million.
That first year saw Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf top the pandemic-impacted rankings – Men | Women.
Final PTO Rankings for 2021
The final rankings for 2021 saw Lucy Charles-Barclay and Gustav Iden top their respective lists, both claiming a bumper $100k bonus in the process.
You can check out the final 2021 PTO Rankings by clicking here.
Final PTO Rankings for 2022
While Gustav Iden (second) and Lucy Charles-Barclays (fifth) still featured strongly in the 2022 points roundup – winning $90k and 60k, respectively – it was Kristian Blummenfelt and Anne Haug that took the tops spots and $100k bonuses.
You can check out the final 2022 PTO Rankings by clicking here.
