Reigning world champion Laura Philipp and world champion Sam Laidlow have won DATEV Challenge Roth and, in front of several hundred thousand spectators, entered the list of winners of the world's largest long-distance triathlon for the first time. Jonas Schomburg, who had to drop out in Frankfurt a week ago and so entered Roth last minute, came second and for a long time even had his sights set on the top step of the podium.
Laura Philipp repeatedly describes swimming as her weakest discipline. It was therefore no surprise that she emerged from the Main-Danube Canal after the 3.8 km swim behind a group chasing the leader, Swiss athlete Alanis Siffert.
On the 180 km bike course, the 38-year-old athlete let Siffert do the leading work for a long time. It was only shortly before the second transition zone that she pushed her way into first place. From then on, Philipp dominated the race without letting her competitors catch up with her again.
Start was touch and go
With a time of 8:18:18 hours, she remained above last year's world best time set by Anne Haug (8:02:38 hours). ‘The eight hours will fall at some point,’ said Laura Philipp at the finish line. ‘The fact that it didn't happen today doesn't mean it can't be done.’ She was delighted with her victory, as she had fallen ill last week. As a result, her start was even in jeopardy.
Grace Thek from Australia (8:37:39 hours), who finished second, and Alanis Siffert (8:41:41 hours) completed the podium in the women's race. ‘Second place still feels so unreal,’ said Thek. ‘I'm anything but disappointed. Laura was the clear favourite and completely dominated the race.’ Swiss athlete Siffert initially had to fight for third place on the 42.195 km marathon course, but secured her place on the podium with a strong final sprint.
In the men's race, Jonas Schomburg led the field for a long time. He had only decided to compete in the DATEV Challenge Roth a week ago, as he had to drop out of the competition in Frankfurt due to his loose handlebars.
‘It was super tough,’ Schomburg summed up at the finish line. He only needed 71 seconds to transition from the water to the bike. ‘I said beforehand that I wanted to lead the race from the front. And that's what I did.’
World champion Sam Laidlow, the winner from France, overtook him in a moment of weakness. ‘I had no chance of keeping up.’ However, he is happy with second place. ‘This is my second long distance race. There's more to come. I will definitely be back in Roth.’
Sam Laidlow had previously finished eighth in Roth. ‘It was a painful race,’ he said in the finish area. ‘In the end, I was mentally fresher than Jonas. I still can't believe it. I can’t put it into words really, it’s been really tough to get here and Roth is really magic. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, the Roth team, and all the volunteers out on course - you’ve really carried me really high today, thank you.’
Jan Stratmann, who finished fourth last year, was delighted with third place, especially because his bike chain had come off during the first bike lap on Solarer Berg, causing him to lose time. ‘The race demanded everything from me. At times, I couldn't do anything on the marathon course.’
He thought he wouldn't make it to the finish line. ‘But then I pulled myself together. I didn't want to finish fourth again. Next year, I want to do at least one place better.’ Former Nuremberg resident Frederic Funk, whose parents Heike and Harald Funk were regular starters in Roth, finished fifth in his Roth debut in 7:40:07 hours.
Sub 2:30 marathon in Roth
The American Matt Hanson set a new record, breaking the magic mark for the first time in Roth with a marathon time of 2:28:03. Hanson finished the race in ninth place.
- 1 Sam Laidlow FRA 7:29:35
- 2 Jonas Schomburg GER +1:49
- 3 Jan Stratmann GER +8:24
- 4 Vincent Luis FRA +9:19
- 5 Frederic Funk GER +10:32
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- 1 Laura Philipp GER 8:18:18
- 2 Grace Thek AUS +19:21
- 3 Alanis Siffert SUI +23:23
- 4 Nikki Bartlett GBR +24:32
- 5 Merie Brunee GER +27:27