'Standard is the best ever': Alistair Brownlee ready for PTO Tour battle with Kristian Blummenfelt and Jan Frodeno

Alistair Brownlee believes the standard of middle distance triathlon has never been higher ahead of a hotly-anticipated showdown in the Saturday Spanish sun. The two-time Olympic champion from Leeds, 35, will make his return to racing in Ibiza for the inaugural Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) European Open this weekend.

Ad The innovative event has organised a Balearic battle between every Olympic gold medallist since Beijing 2008, with reigning Tokyo champion Kristian Blummenfelt and German giant Jan Frodeno, who grabbed glory in China 15 years ago, spearheading a star-studded field alongside Brownlee. Triathlon'Now I'm a Man City fan!' How 'monster' Haaland is inspiring compatriot BlummenfeltAN HOUR AGO Frodeno, 41, is widely acknowledged as the greatest triathlete of all time but earlier this week hailed Brownlee, who claimed Olympic gold in London and Rio, as the finest athlete to ever grace the sport.

The decorated duo will lock horns with PTO world No.1 Blummenfelt, 29, for the first time ever on Saturday as different generations collide over 100km in Ibiza. Technological advances have propelled the middle distance standard to new heights since London 2012 and Brownlee says the calibre of athletes on the circuit is at an all-time high.

Brownlee relishing maiden battle with Blummenfelt and Frodeno in Ibiza PTO announces new behind-the-scenes docuseries for 2023 season Professional Triathletes Organisation announces Ibiza as inaugural host of the PTO European Open “In terms of the standard, it’s really hard to answer – you want to say it’s no better than it was,” he said. “But I think this middle distance, the standard is the best it’s ever been, both in terms of the best athletes and competitiveness.