We Noticed: Ventum and USA Triathlon Partner Up, A Sprint Tri with $16K on the Line and More

Lots of quick hit items that we’ve noticed over the past week on the business side of the sport.

Ventum Becomes Official Bike Manufacturer of USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon and Ventum have tied up, with Ventum becoming the Official Bike Manufacturer of USA Triathlon under a new partnership announced this week.

According to Ventum’s Instagram post announcing the deal, the agreement is for “2025 and beyond.”

Co-CEO of Ventum Barrett Brandon said, “This year marks a big return to triathlon for Ventum. Our roots are here, we’ve always been in triathlon, but with a new bike and a renewed focus on the sport, we couldn’t think of a better partner than USA Triathlon.”

Ventum’s new bike, the Tempus, officially launches on March 27th. You can see our up-close look at Jackson Laundry’s bike from Kona here.

Chalk this up as yet another win for Ben Pickel and the USA Triathlon partnership team. On the deal, Pickel said, “Ventum’s reputation for creating world-class bicycles is well-established within the triathlon community. We are thrilled to partner with a brand that is committed to pushing the boundaries of performance.”

SCOTT USA Revamps Distribution Model, Will Launch Direct-to-Consumer Sales in April

SCOTT USA is attacking on all possible sales channels later this spring, as they announced a revised multi-channel sales strategy that will see the brand launch direct-to-consumer sales on its website this spring.

At launch, consumers shopping on SCOTT’s website will have three options for shopping for their product of choice: Locally, Click-and-Collect, and Direct-to-Consumer. The first of these options allows users to find their local dealer and browse their inventory. Click-and-collect, meanwhile, has the user checkout online and pick up their ride at their local SCOTT dealer, with assembly performed at the local level. Direct-to-consumer bikes will ship from SCOTT USA in Ogden, Utah, and arrive nearly ready-to-ride out of the box, with some minor final assembly required. It’s not dissimilar from how Canyon or Quintana Roo have shipped purchased e-commerce bikes.

In an interesting wrinkle, all SCOTT USA inventory is unified. It means that a dealer can pull from inventory earmarked for e-commerce to fulfill a customer order. Conversely, if SCOTT needs a bike to ship to an e-commerce purchaser, it can get that bike back from a dealer’s allocated inventory. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that there’s a bike available for a customer who is ready to make their purchase today.

Hap Seliga, President & CEO of SCOTT USA, said: “This strategy is about strengthening the SCOTT brand and expanding consumer reach to drive more awareness and demand for our dealer network. We’re committed to opening new avenues for customers to discover SCOTT products, while continuing to prioritize the expertise, service, and community that only our dealers can provide. Ultimately, we want to make it as easy as possible to do business with SCOTT and get the support you need, no matter what type of customer you are.”

In addition to launching its own direct-to-consumer channel, the company will also allow large e-commerce brands Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, Jenson USA, and Contender Bicycles expanded inventory in a curated selection of bikes and accessories.

Pro Athletes: There’s a $16,000 Prize Purse for a Sprint Race

No, that’s not a typo — there’s an inaugural sprint race happening this summer with a total prize purse of $16,000 available.

The first-year Muscatine Triathlon, taking place on August 2nd, is one of just a handful of sprint distance events with sizable prize purses. The top 3 men and women will be competing for their share of the purse:

1. $5,000
2. $2,000
3. $1,000

The event features a 750 meter swim, 12.4 mile bike, and 5K run. The race takes place at Deep Lakes Park in Muscatine, just southwest of downtown Muscatine and a short drive from Davenport.

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