Team Europe's first Collins Cup lives up to favourites role

Sunday 29 August 2021

Whether it was the great performance of Taylor Knibb, who left Daniela Ryf and Teresa Adam far behind, or Lucy Charles who showed no one less than Katie Zaferes and Paula Findlay that Europe was all about earning as many points as possible, or the sometimes nasty crashes like those of Holly Lawrence and Lionel Sanders, or the fact that all those world-class athletes like Jan Frodeno, Sebastian Kienle, Gustav Iden, Anne Haug and Ellie Salthouse started at all: add to that highly variable weather conditions during the race and you immediately know that more than enough happened today during the first edition of the Collins Cup in Samorin, Slovakia, home of CHALLENGEFAMILY THECHAMPIONSHIP. Of course it was the big question which team would win – USA, Europe or International – and in the end, after twelve races, that honour was for Team Europe.

All the races offered exciting racing, even though sometimes it was quite clear which athlete would run away with the win in a specific race. Initially the Collins Cup started with beautiful weather, but after a while there was rain and even a brief thunderstorm, but the delayed men’s start could not prevent the Collins Cup from still being enjoyed to the fullest in Samorin. For example, when Jan Frodeno quickly ran away from a very strong racing Sam Appleton during the half marathon, when Lionel Sanders and Andrew Starykowicz stayed together for a long time and when Gustav Iden also stayed side by side with Collin Chartier for longer than expected.

A total of 12 races over a 2km, 80km bike and 18km of running got underway, with athletes competing one versus one versus one: Europe versus America versus International. Points were earned for each race to eventually arrive at an overall classification, which was ultimately won by Team Europe with 42.5 points. Team USA took second place with 31.5 points and Team Internationals had the honour of taking home the Broken Spokes Trophy for third with 25.5 points.

Quotes of some of the best athletes out there:

Lucy Charles: “I absolutely enjoyed this. You’re racing for a team now, so that really added some excitement.”

Jackie Hering: “It was cool that I could see the other American ladies while biking and I knew they were smashing it. It gave a lot of motivation and no pressure that I was considered an underdog. I knew this distance suited me and I knew I had good form. I knew I could win.”

Ellie Salthouse: “I won my race for our team International and I am very proud of that.”

Holly Lawrence: “I slipped on the roundabout, it was incredibly slippery. Maybe I went through it a little too fast, but that’s part of racing. I have some scratched skin and a scratched ego.”

Emma Pallant: “It was a more tactical race than I thought it would be. It was a beautiful battle and I really enjoyed it.”

Jan Frodeno: “I had a great day, I felt very strong and was very surprised that Sam was still with me in T2. I ran myself to pieces to win an extra half point.”

Race Results:
Race 1:
Taylor Knibb (USA) 3:30:11
Daniela Ryf (EUR) +16:43
Teresa Adam (INT) +22:58
Race 2:
Lucy Charles (EUR) 3:33:47
Katie Zaferes (USA) +4:16
Paula Findlay (INT) +4:53
Race 3:
Jackie Hering (USA) 3:35:27
Anne Haug (EUR) +2:23
Jeanni Metzler (INT) +3:24
Race 4:
Ellie Salthouse (INT) 3:38:39
Skye Moench (USA) +2:01
Holly Lawrence (EUR) +5:29
Race 5:
Emma Pallant (EUR) 3:34:37
Chelsea Sadaro (USA) +1:14
Sarah Crowley (INT) +7:24
Race 6:
Kat Matthews (EUR) 3:35:18
Jocelyn McCauley (USA) +5:41
Carrie Lester (INT) +10:49
Race 7:
Jan Frodeno (EUR) 3:13:09
Sam Appleton (INT) +4:38
Sam Long (USA) +5:09
Race 8:
Gustav Iden (EUR) 3:13:36
Kyle Smith (INT) +7:13
Collin Chartier (USA) +7:16
Race 9:
Lionel Sanders (INT) 3:19:18
Sebastian Kienle (EUR) +1:06
Andrew Starykowicz (USA) +1:52
Race 10:
Daniel Baekkegard (EUR) 3:15:28
Ben Kanute (USA) +0:58
Max Neumann (INT) +10:58
Race 11:
Braden Currie (INT) 3:20:31
Matt Hanson (USA) +5:17
Patrick Lange (EUR) +6:55
Race 12:
Jackson Laundry (INT) 3:18:09
Joe Skipper (EUR) +0:36
Justin Metzler (USA) +3:43

CHALLENGE Family


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Frysman

Reaklif, Warns, Netherlands

Laponia Triathlon

Gällivare, Sweden

Stone Extreme

Lago d'Iseo / Passo Paradiso, Italy

Swedeman Xtreme

Östernoren, Sweden

Odyssey

St Neots, United Kingdom

Challenge Roth

Roth, Germany

Altriman

les Angles, Pyrenees, France

eagleXman

Assergi, Italy

TriBourne 226

Eastbourne, United Kingdom

Kaike triathlon

Yonago, Tottori, Japan

Ironman Vitoria Gasteiz

Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain

Ironman Lake Placid

Lake Placid, United States

Ironman Leeds

Leeds, United Kingdom

Ironman Canada Ottawa

Ottowa, Canada

Ironman Kalmar Sweden

Kalmar, Sweden

Ironman Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark

Ironman Tallinn

Tallinn, Estonia

Ironman Switzerland

Thun, Switzerland

Ironman Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Ironman Japan South Hokkaido

Hokkaido, Japan

Tri Tour El Pont de Suert

El Pont de Suert, Spain

La Tour Geneve

Geneve, Switzerland

Garmin Tri Tour Elblag

Elblag, Poland

Great White North

Hubbles Lake, Alberta, Canada

Outlaw Half Holkham

Holkham Hall, Norfolk, United Kingdom

Oravaman

Zuberec, Slovakia

Cotswold Classic

Ashton Keynes, United Kingdom

Door Country Half

Egg Harbor, WI, United States

Garmin Tri Tour Sycow

Sycow, Poland

Sourdough Triathlon

Chatanika, Alaska, United States

70.3 Muskoka

Huntsville, Ontario, Canada

70.3 Jonkoping

Jönköping, Sweden

70.3 Muncie

Muncie, Indiana, United States

70.3 Luxembourg

Remich, Luxembourg

70.3 Swansea

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

70.3 Musselman

Geneva NY, United States

70.3 Ohio

Sandusky, United States

70.3 Oregon

Salem OR, United States

70.3 Ecuador

Manta, Ecuador

70.3 Boise

Boise Idaho, United States

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

Thursday 03 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

World champions, Roth winners, Olympians, European champions, local heroes, Paralympic champions – they're all in Roth! The 2025 professional field is more diverse than ever before. Whether it's a debut or a comeback, seasoned veterans, final races or new faces: 6 July promises to be a triathlon festival full of surprises. The professional field is led by the two Ironman world champions Laura Philipp and Sam Laidlow. more

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon, today announced a new performance-based age group qualification system for its IRONMAN World Championship® and IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship events, beginning with the 2026 qualifying cycle. Based on extensive research, testing, and feedback from athletes, the new qualifying system is designed to reward athletes based entirely on how competitive they are relative to their age group and gender. more

Marten van Riel & Jess Learmonth Win 70.3 Nice France

Marten van Riel & Jess Learmonth Win 70.3 Nice France

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

Van Riel's Dominance: Marten Van Riel controlled the men's race from the swim, building a significant lead on the bike and maintaining it through the run. This win also qualified him for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella. Michele Bortolamedi (ITA) finished second, and Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DEN) took third. more

Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) Claims Second European Title at Thrilling 21st Edition IRONMAN Frankfurt

Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) Claims Second European Title at Thrilling 21st Edition IRONMAN Frankfurt

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

The IRONMAN European Championship for professional men took place in Frankfurt today, making the 11th race of the IRONMAN Pro Series. In a nail-biting race right up to the bitter end, it was Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt who took the tape, claiming his second straight win in Frankfurt, and second regional IRONMAN Championship title this year. more

Kaindland & Jansen Win CHALLENGE Kaiserwinkl Walchsee

Kaindland & Jansen Win CHALLENGE Kaiserwinkl Walchsee

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

A tough and hot day of racing in the Austrian Alps saw career-defining wins for Austrian Olympian, Tjebbe Kaindl, and Laura Jansen (GER) as they both took their first professional wins over the middle distance in 3:46:19 and 4:15:15 respectively. The pro women kicked the day off with Therese Feuersinger (AUT) dominating the swim in 24:13, posting the fastest swim split of the day, more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.