Records were broken once again this Sunday at DATEV Challenge Roth: ahead of the race, last year’s winner Sam Laidlow had already announced he wanted to “finish the race ten minutes faster” than his winning time of 7:29:35 hours last year. Although the Frenchman did not quite manage this in ideal weather conditions, he fought his way impressively to the finish line: In 7:21:04, the 27-year-old 2023 Ironman World Champion not only set a new course record but also smashed the world record over the 3.8km-180km-42.2km distance (7:21:24) set by Kristian Blummenfelt at Ironman Texas in April by exactly 20 seconds. The Norwegian finished second in his debut at Roth (7:26:24), ahead of the top German finisher, Nico Bogen (7:27:53).
This year, race director Felix Walchshöfer was also able to announce a new spectator record of 300,000 triathlon fans lining the course.
“I struggled, but my team, my girlfriend and the spectators carried me to the finish line,” said Sam Laidlow. He had led the race for much of the way alongside long-distance newcomer and Ironman 70.3 world champion Rico Bogen, who secured a podium place on debut in third with a time of 7:27:53 hours.
The 25-year-old from Leipzig broke Magnus Ditlev’s record from 2023 by a full three minutes with a bike time of 3:54:45 and came into T2 just ahead of Laidlow. Laidlow only began to pull further and further away from his rival from the 15-kilometre mark on the marathon course. Bogen, in turn, had to let the 2021 Olympic short-distance champion, Kristian Blummenfelt, pass him on the second half of the marathon course. “I’m absolutely delighted with my third place,” said rookie Rico Bogen at the finish line, celebrating the fastest long-distance debut of all time.
“The atmosphere was even more incredible than I’d heard. On the Solarer Berg, I thought I’d lost my hearing.” Solarer Berg on the bike course near Hilpoltstein is considered one of the biggest highlights of DATEV Challenge Roth. “I didn’t think beforehand that I’d make it onto the podium. I’ll definitely be coming back to Roth next year.”
Three-time Hawaii winner and 2021 Roth winner Patrick Lange has also announced he’ll be competing again: “I’ll be celebrating my farewell this year in Hawaii and next year in Roth.” With a time of 7:41:27 hours, Lange finished ninth. “I didn’t stand a chance against the pace they were setting. I rode well, mind you, but the times are getting more and more incredible.”
Triathlon legend Jan Frodeno, who broke the world record in Roth ten years ago and was in Roth as a spectator following his retirement, also drew parallels with his race back then: “Much like Sam Laidlow, I wasn’t able to enjoy my victory in Roth back then either, because I had to keep an eye on the clock right up to the end due to the world record.” Sam Laidlow’s performance was “simply brilliant”. “It just goes to show that you need competition like Magnus Ditlev. They make a big fuss beforehand and then back it up with action.” The Dane Ditlev, himself a three-time Roth winner, finished sixth in 7:34:21 hours after announcing his participation at short notice. The two Germans, Jonas Schomburg (7:32:17 hours) and Frederic Funk (7:38:14 hours), came fifth and seventh respectively.
Youngest-ever Challenge Roth winner
In the women’s race, last year’s third-place finisher Alanis Siffert won in 8:09:09 hours. The youngest-ever Challenge Roth winner improved her time by more than 30 minutes compared with the previous year. “It’s just incredible. It wasn’t until the last two kilometres of the marathon that I knew I’d managed it.” The Swiss athlete had expected that the British competitor Lucy Charles-Barclay might still overtake her. “That’s why I gave it my all. I’d already trained very hard, so it’s lovely to see that it’s paid off.”
Ironman world champion Charles-Barclay was initially the first out of the water from the Main-Danube Canal: she lost valuable time in both the first and second transition zones. First she had to search for her transition bag, then she had to park her bike again to put on her helmet.
She took considerably longer to get changed in the second transition area. “Ten days ago, I still thought I’d just be doing a training session today,” said Lucy Charles-Barclay. It was only on Monday of race week that she confirmed her participation in Roth. “That’s why I’m very, very pleased.” Third place went to the British athlete and European Triathlon Champion Daisy Davis in 8:27:19 hours, ahead of Kat Matthews (Great Britain) and long-distance rookie Caroline Pohle (8:32:49 hours).