Jorgensen, Zaferes & the QR PRfive recognized by TBI & Interbike

LAS VEGAS, NV – Triathlon Business International (TBI) and Interbike announced the winners of the TBI-sponsored International Triathlete of the Year, Breakthrough North American Triathlete and Triathlon Innovation Awards last night at Interbike’s Awards Celebration at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.  The International Triathlete of the Year is USA’s Gwen Jorgensen, Breakthrough North American Triathlete is USA’s Katie Zaferes and the Triathlon Innovation Award winner is Quintana Roo’s pro level PRfive triathlon bike.

The athlete nominees were selected by TBI Board members for performances in domestic and international races between October 15, 2015 and July 31, 2016.  The International award recognized excellence in triathlon performance for men and women among international pro-level athletes. The Breakthrough award recognized the professional or amateur triathlete who had a breakout race year. This athlete could come from the best young rider ranks or could be a triathlete that had a banner year, and has become a force to be reckoned with both domestically and internationally.  The Innovation award represents any product that was deemed a model year 2016 product and was available for review between July 1, 2015 and June 15, 2016. This product was also required to have been in production and available at retail in this timeframe. This award covers all categories of triathlon, including bikes, wheels, components, accessories, clothing etc. Nominees were considered based on overall design, performance, spec, price, styling, etc.

“This year’s TBI awards were given to three deserving choices,” said TBI president Richard Adler. “Gwen is unique in American history and her record in Olympic distance racing in 2015/2016 is unprecedented. Katie had her first WTS career victory and several podium finishes, and both Gwen and Katie represented the U.S. in Rio.  As for QR’s PRfive, it’s a premier, top-rated bike and our award isn’t its first award for innovation.”

Jorgensen finished on the podium in all her International Triathlon Union (ITU) race starts during the voting period, including World Triathlon Series (WTS) Yokohama and WTS Leeds, which were her 16th and 17th career WTS titles. Jorgensen was also a member of the U.S. ITU Mixed Relay World Championship team, bringing home the first-ever gold for the U.S. in the event, and she finished second at WTS Gold Coast and third in Hamburg. She was the United States’ top qualifier for the 2016 Olympics, and while the Games fell outside the voting period, she brought home the first gold medal ever for the U.S.

Zaferes claimed her first career World Triathlon Series victory in 2016 at the World Triathlon Hamburg on July 16. Earlier in the year, she posted back-to-back sixth place efforts, first at World Triathlon Gold Coast and then again at World Triathlon Yokohama. By finishing sixth in Yokohama, Zaferes clinched the third and final Olympic berth on the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team.

The QR PRfive is considered to have “superbike performance, without the superbike price.”  It shares a frame and cutting edge aerodynamics with its award-winning cousin, the PRsix. The bike is light, up to 400 grams lighter than some competitors’ frames.  The PRfive starts at $3,700 with Ultegra components and is offered in four color schemes. Earlier this year, the PRfive was named LAVA magazine’s 2016 Editor’s Pick for Gear-of-the-Year, Bike Technology.

Awards were presented by Slowtwitch.com editor and publisher, Dan Empfield and actress/activist Alexandra Paul. Empfield himself is a USA Triathlon Hall-of-Famer; TBI/Interbike Industry Leader of the Year; and a TBI founding board member.

January 22-24, 2017 TBI Conference 

The 2017 TBI Conference will be at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel from Sunday through Tuesday, January 22-24.  For the first time, TBI and USA Triathlon are collaborating to consecutively present their respective annual conferences. USA Triathlon’s Race Director Symposium will be the 20th through the 22nd with TBI and USA Triathlon presenting joint programming on Sunday, January 22nd. Registration will open soon after Interbike.

About Triathlon Business International

Triathlon Business International is the world’s leading organization dedicated to promoting the sport and business of triathlon. Founded by a coalition of industry leaders, TBI’s mission is to leverage the knowledge, talent, and resources of the leaders in triathlon to the benefit of the sport. Its overarching goals are to increase and retain advocates of and participants in triathlon, and to foster a positive image of the sport globally. To get information about becoming a member of TBI or about sponsorships or Expo participation at the 2017 Conference, please send an email to feedback@ triathlonbusinessintl.com. You can follow TBI on Twitter and Facebook.

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