Triathlon event’s anniversary issue just got started
International press conference with the stars kicks off this year’s Challenge
The city of Roth and the worldwide triathlon community are celebrating “20 Years of Challenge”. To kick off the legendary triathlon event, top stars of the scene were flocking to the international press conference at Kulturfabrik in Roth: All the big names are in town to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the brand “Challenge” at Sunday’s “DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep”. With Jan Frodeno, Anne Haug and Patrick Lange there are three world champions in the historically strong field of starters. Further title contenders are Sam Long, Magnus Elbæk Ditlev, Laura Siddall, Fenella Langridge and Maja Stage Nielsen.
The atmospheric hotspots are back
After a modified version of the Challenge last September, due to Corona, with only half the number of starters, everyone is happy to celebrate a complete race again this year at the triathlon epicenter Roth: With spectators, with atmospheric hotspots - like the legendary Solarer Berg (Solar Hill) - and of course with a bigger field of athletes. Race director Felix Walchshöfer has accepted around 3.000 single starters and 600 relay teams, with athletes from 70 nations. Also starters from New Zealand and Australia are able to join again for this year‘s anniversary race. In total, about 50% of the athletes are from outside of Germany.
„Everything is possible“
At the press conference at Kulturfabrik, you could tell from the top athlete’s words how happy they are to have the spectators and Solar Hill back again.
Especially world champion Anne Haug, who plans to get a second win in Roth under her belt, is looking forward to seeing people along the track, among them many friends, cheering for the likeable athlete from Bayreuth. Haug is sure: „The fans will carry me through the hard parts“. Is she coming for Chrissie Wellington‘s record time from 2011? The winner of Hawaii is keeping her cards close to her chest for now: „That’s not an issue for me. My own expectations are my biggest pressure. You can’t force it. I will give it my all right to the end and then we’ll see what the result is.“
But it seems like Laura Siddall (UK) has big plans of her own for Sunday‘s race. It’s always extra motivation to compete with the best in the world and „everything is possible“.
In the men‘s field, there will be the much anticipated showdown between the two almost legendary world champions Jan Frodeno and Patrick Lange. Last year‘s winner Lange is all smiles, he felt right back at home in Roth: „That was like homecoming“.
Due to injuries in the recent past, he doesn’t want to get his hopes for the race to high: „It‘s a bit like a black box.“ It’s only been four months since he had surgery on his shoulder, which he injured in a bike accident, but he didn’t want to miss this race: „I was already blown away by the atmosphere last year in Roth, when there weren’t any fans, but now I want to experience the real deal. The duel with Jan Frodeno is pushing me and gives me so much extra motivation.“
World class triathlete Jan Frodeno, who set a sensational world record at 07:35:39 hours in Roth in 2016, was struggling in spring, too. He was hurt since mid-January, received wrong treatment and had to pass through many different therapies. „Frodo“ opened up saying: „I have to let go of my perfectionism, but that is still easier for me to do than staying home.“ He needs a smart approach to the race this time and is looking forward to measuring up against Patrick Lange.
„There is a strong sense of competition between us and that is a good thing! It helps me to push myself farther.“ He is „happy to be back“ and looking forward to a „positive moment after hard times“. He paid his biggest compliment (and challenge) to defending champion Patrick Lange: „He has lots of talent. And I want to show that I have more.“
DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep will start next Sunday, July 3rd, at 6:30 AM and race director Felix Walchshöfer is expecting great race conditions: 31 degree Celsius, zero percent chance of rain and almost no wind until midday.
TV-Station “BR” will broadcast large parts of the race live on linear TV and the complete race live on the internet. So, all the fans of the Challenge will be able to see the race from start to finish without any interruptions, without missing anything.