‘First long distance has to be in Roth, of course’ - Frederic Funk announces start at DATEV Challenge Roth 2025
From Junior Challenge 2003 to the long distance in Roth 2025
Frederic Funk, runner-up world champion over the middle distance in 2023, is making his debut over the long distance this year - and on one of the most prestigious stages in the sport: DATEV Challenge Roth on 6 July.
27-year-old Funk, who has made a name for himself in recent years with his successes in the middle distance, is taking the next step in his career and is competing for the first time on 6 July in the 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run.
Back to his roots - first triathlon experience in Roth in 2003
For Funk, it is a return to his triathlon roots. 22 years ago, he took part in his very first triathlon at the Junior Challenge as part of Challenge Roth and finished third at the age of five.
‘I'm ready for Roth’
Funk can hardly wait for race day: ‘Of course I have very special memories of Roth and only have positive associations with the race. I took my first triathlon steps in Roth in 2003, in my parents' “slipstream” so to speak, and it's incredible to be returning to the long distance as a professional. I've been there almost every year so far and I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to experience the atmosphere in the ‘Home of Triathlon’ myself as a professional athlete. There was no question in my mind that my first long-distance triathlon would take place in Roth. I'm ready for the Roth experience.’
The 27-year-old became German champion over the middle distance in 2018. In 2021, he became European champion over the same distance. In 2023, Funk finished second at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Lahti. Plus he has won Challenge Kaiserwinkl Walchsee three times and been on the podium of The Championship three times. Funk has a total of nine victories to his name over the middle distance. Last year he regularly finished in the top ten in the T100 races of the Professional Triathletes Organisation.
Frederic Funk is trained by Dan Lorang, the coach of Taylor Knibb, Anne Haug, Jan Frodeno and the RedBull-BORA-hansgrohe cycling team, among others.