Watch The 2022 Collins Cup Livestream Here on Saturday
This article originally appeared on Triathlete
The slugfest in Slovakia, the smackdown in Samorin--or, more simply put, the Ryder Cup of triathlon. However you want to define the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) inaugural flagship event, The Collins Cup, two things are for certain: it's novel in its match-play concept and it's a must-watch for triathlon fans.
This weekend, 36 of the world's finest triathletes will be competing head-to-head to answer, in the PTO's own words: Who rules triathlon?
How can you watch the Collins Cup? The answer is simple: Right here, with Outside Watch! See the Collins Cup livestream below, which will air here starting at 6:30 a.m. ET Saturday and stream for the full seven hours of the event. (Before then, it’ll air the opening ceremony and draft picks.)
But first: A little background on the Collins Cup. Want the short version? Here: What is the Collins Cup
Where did the Collins Cup come from, anyway?
While he doesn't like to admit it, the Collins Cup is the brainchild of PTO chairman Charles Adamo, a latecomer to the triathlon world who wanted to see elite long-course racers rewarded for their efforts. More importantly, Adamo helped secure the investment from billionaire venture capitalist Mike Moritz to make this happen.
The Collins Cup concept is built on rivalries, the idea that Europe, the U.S., and rest of the world (ie. the Internationals) can foster regional pride and get one over on the opposition--and that triathletes will want to watch. The challenge is it has none of the Ryder Cup's near-century of tradition behind it, and it's taken a while to get off the ground. First conceived of five years ago and originally penciled in for Roth, Germany, the Collins Cup has finally found a home at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, a purpose-built sporting mecca in Slovakia.
RELATED:Video: The Birth of The Collins Cup
The Collins Cup format
Each team--the U.S., Europe, and the Internationals--is made up of six women and six men. There are then 12 head-to-head-to-head match-up races, with one triathlete from each of the teams competing over a 100-kilometer course (2K swim, 80K bike, 18K run) in and around the x-bionic sphere. Yes, that is the slightly-shorter-than-a-half 100K distance: the PTO is trying to make it a thing.
The winner of each match scores three points for their team, the runner-up gets two points, and last place earns just one point. Bonus points can also be scored for the margin of victory: a maximum 1.5 points for a six-minute or greater gap over the third-placed triathlete, 1 point for four minutes, and 0.5 points for two minutes.
The points are tallied up and the winning team captains will lift the inaugural Collins Cup, designed and made by jeweler Tiffany & Co. The losers are presented with the less-auspicious Broken Spoke trophy for last place.
Who to watch
Thirty-six of the world's best triathletes will be on show, with the teams selected via rankings and then “captain’s picks.” The big names include reigning Ironman champions Kristian Blummenfelt and Daniela Ryf, representing Europe along with past Ironman champions Patrick Lange and Anne Haug. For Team Internationals, it’s headlined by Bermuda’s finiest, Olympian Flora Duffy, and Canada's characterful Lionel Sanders. And on the U.S. the firepower comes from young Ironman winner Sam Long and powerhouse Skye Moench. With a few last-minute substitutions this past week, here are the final teams to watch at the Collins Cup:
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