We Noticed: PTO Heads Down Under, Increased Drug Testing at Roth and More

Ashleigh Gentle (left) at the announcement for the Gold Coast T100 Triathlon. Photo: PTO

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has added the Gold Coast to its T100 schedule, with the first race taking place from March 21 to 22, 2026. The long-term deal to host the Gold Coast T100 Triathlon is a big win for the PTO since the race will be organized by Events Management Queensland, which is owned by the Queensland Government. Major races in Australia are often supported by tourism bureaus, so partnering with the government to put on the race bodes well for the PTO as it looks to expand its global reach.

Next year’s race will also include a 10 km run, an age-group 100 km- (2 km swim, 80 km bike and 18 km run – the same distance the pros race) and sprint-distance triathlons. The weekend will also include AusTriathlon’s National Club Championships.

“Whenever we’ve asked the triathlon community where they’d like us to add events, Australia is consistently at the top of the request list,” said PTO CEO Sam Renouf. “So we are thrilled to be able to announce this long term agreement to host the T100 on the beautiful Gold Coast, and to accelerate the growth and visibility of triathlon in the build up to the hosting of the 2032 Olympics.”

The 2032 Games will be mostly hosted in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

“The T100 Triathlon World Tour coming to the Gold Coast is incredibly exciting,” said Australian Olympian Ashleigh Gentle, who finished second in last year’s T100 Tour. “Australia has been asking for an event for a long time, so to secure one on the Gold Coast in Queensland, the most perfect place to race a triathlon, is really exciting.  I can’t wait to be able to race on home turf, in front of a home crowd and be able to experience the course with Gold Coasters and Australians.”

More Anti-Doping at Challenge Roth

Challenge Roth has been working with the German National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) since the event began in 2002. This year NADA will test both the pros and age group athletes at Challenge Roth, and will include Dried Blood Spot (DBS) tests in addition to traditional blood and urine samples.

“The (DBS) test is carried out using a small device that pricks the upper arm to collect blood drops,” said NADA board member Dr. Lars Mortsiefer. “It’s a quick, efficient, and valuable addition to the classic testing methods.”

While officials don’t want to reveal the exact number of tests that will be done, according to yesterday’s release, NADA will “increase the overall number of tests in Roth.”

Reischmann and Bogen Highlight 70.3 Venice-Jesolo Field

Anne Reischmann wins IRONMAN Cozumel last November. Photo: IRONMAN Instagram

The first European race in the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series takes place in Jesolo, Venice this weekend. It’s the fifth race in this year’s series, with a US$50,000 prize purse and 2,500 IRONMAN Pro Series points going to the winner.

Recent IRONMAN South Africa champ Anne Reischman highlights the women’s field that includes Danes Maja Stage Nielsen and Katrine Christensen. The men’s field will be led by 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion Rico Bogen who will take on Olympians Jonas Schomburg (GER), who is fresh off a third-place finish in South Africa and Pierre Le Corre (fourth in Paris last year). You can see the full pro start list here.

The huge field has just under 3,000 age group athletes registered.

The live coverage of the race begins at 7 AM CEST/ 1 AM ET and can be seen in North America on Outside TV and on the IRONMAN Triathlon YouTube Channel, DAZN and L’Equipe Live in other parts of the world.

Van Coevorden Looks for Another 70.3 Win in Port Macquarie

Natalie Van Coevorden at the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

After her win at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong in March, Aussie Olympian Natalie Van Coevorden headlines the field at IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie this weekend. The race runs alongside IRONMAN Australia, which will be an age-group only affair.

Van Coervorden lines up against a strong field that includes New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson and Rebecca Clarke, along with fellow Australians Charlotte McShane and Chloe Hartnett. On the men’s side Josh Amberger will certainly garner lots of attention in the competitive field that includes Sam Osborne (NZL), Henrik Goesch (FIN) and Australians Kurt McDonald, Mitch Kibby and Caleb Noble. You can see the full list of pros here.

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