Challenge Roth: stellar field lining up for Big Game

This weekend, the triathlon world will gather in Roth, Germany, for Challenge Roth, the largest long-distance triathlon event globally. Roth, known as the home of triathlon, will welcome more than 85 professional athletes, including many of the top 10 athletes in the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) world ranking.

The men’s field is highly competitive this year, featuring participants such as Magnus Ditlev (DEN), the reigning champion for the past two years and current world and course record holder; Daniel Bækkegård (DEN), the 2023 Challenge Canberra champion; and Patrick Lange (GER), the local favourite who finished second last year. They will be joined by athletes like Rudy von Berg (USA), Pieter Heemeryck (BEL), Jan Stratmann (GER), Clement Mignon (FRA), Tom Bishop (GBR), and several others, making it one of the largest professional men’s fields in the event’s history.

The professional women’s field also has a strong line up with a significant German presence. This includes Anne Haug, last year’s second-place finisher, two-times Roth champion and run course record holder; Laura Philipp, a prominent German athlete; and Els Visser (NED), a multiple Challenge race winner with six podium finishes to her name already this year, including three wins. These athletes will compete against contenders such as Anne Reischmann (GER), Danielle Lewis (USA), and others, ensuring a competitive race.

Professional athletes will not only be racing for a share of the prize purse but also the increased number of Challenge Family World Bonus points that can be earned at Roth due to the strength and size of its field.

Since 2002, DATEV Challenge Roth has been a cornerstone event for triathletes worldwide, steeped in history and tradition. The 2023 race, held on June 25, was testament to this, with Magnus Ditlev defending his title with a new world-best time of 7:24:40 and Daniela Ryf breaking Chrissie Wellington’s twelve-year-old world-best time by nearly 10 minutes.

This year’s event aims to continue the tradition of competitive and memorable races as athletes from around the world come together in Roth. Known for its supportive crowds with over 200,000 lining the course, and fast course, the race attracts over 5,000 athletes from around the world, supported by 7,500 volunteers and sells out each year in less than a minute.

Triathlon Today will publish a free-to-watch livestream of the race on Sunday, so you don’t have to miss anything.