World’s best-attended long distance of the year / Anne Haug: “best race in the world / Patrick Lange “wants to recapture the title”/ Hawaii runner-up Sam Laidlow: “main event of the season” / Laura Philipp: “unofficial world championships”
ROTH. On 25 June 2023, five Hawaii champions – Patrick Lange, Anne Haug, Sebastian Kienle, Daniela Ryf and Chelsea Sodaro – will compete in Roth. Include Magnus Ditlev, Andi Dreitz and Nils Frommhold and seven athletes who have already stood at the top of the Roth podium will lead the world-class field. In addition, Laura Philipp will make her debut in the Franconian triathlon mecca. Triathlon fans can look forward to a record-breaking race in both the women’s and men’s fields.
Perfect setting for fast times
Race director Felix Walchshöfer is excited about what is probably the highest-calibre race in Roth’s history. “DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep is the only race of the season to bring together the world’s best athletes in one place on one day. We are extremely proud so many outstanding professional men and women choose to race in Roth. Together with the 3,500 age groupers, the 650 relay teams, all 7,500 volunteers and hundreds of thousands of fans, they make it the triathlon day of the year. I’m sure we will see very fast times in both the men’s and women’s races. Triathlonlandkreis Roth will set the perfect stage for a record-breaking race, of that I am convinced.”
“Definitely the race of the year”
Reigning Roth champion Anne Haug has big plans for 2023: “I’m not just starting in Roth this year because it’s the best race in the world. The starting field this year is simply unbelievable and it is unique at this level that professional women and professional men and age groupers start on the same course on the same day. It’s definitely going to be the race of the year and of course I want to do my very best to compete against the best in the world.”
Daniela Ryf is looking forward to her third appearance at the Home of Triathlon. “I decided to start at Challenge Roth because I think it is the race with the best atmosphere. I have raced twice and have great memories of it. But of course I want to compete against the best; And it’s a super-stacked field in Roth. I’m looking forward to racing against the best in the world and I can’t wait.”
For Laura Philipp it’s her first time racing in Roth. “I can´t wait to experience what Roth is all about. And the icing on the cake is we will have the most spectacular field ever and I think it´s fair to call this the unofficial world championship. And yeah, I’m so much looking forward to seeing you all there and racing alongside all the best athletes.”
“Can’t wait to see all the amazing volunteers”
For Patrick Lange, Roth is “one of, if not the best, race in the world. I can’t wait to see all the amazing volunteers, all the spectators and of course this year it will be something special to have all the pro men, pro women and age groupers all racing together on the same course on the same day. So really looking forward to that and of course I want to recapture the title from 2021. I’m working hard for that.”
Last year’s winner Magnus Ditlev said, “Roth was definitely the highlight of my season last year, so I’m looking forward to having the chance to compete in Roth again in 2023. When I heard the starting field was even deeper this year, I had absolutely zero doubts about coming back to Roth again this year.”
Hawaii runner-up Sam Laidlow is now looking to move up a notch on the podium in Roth. “As we won’t be in Hawaii this year, I think it will be the main event of the season. It’s great to race with so many age groupers too. I want to win the race!”
10 years of partnership with title sponsor DATEV
The race will start on 25 June 2023 at 6.30am with the swim in the Main-Danube Canal, continue with the two-lap bike course through the Roth triathlon region and a final marathon. This year, Challenge Roth celebrates its ten-year partnership with title sponsor DATEV. The festival in the triathlon mecca took place for the first time back in 1984. Unforgettable are Jan Frodeno’s time of 7:35:39 in 2016 and Chrissie Wellington’s time of 8:18:13 in 2011, which is still the world’s best time over the long distance!
The elite start list at a glance:
Women:
- Anne Haug
- Chelsea Sodaro
- Daniela Ryf
- Laura Philipp
- Laura Siddall
- Fenella Langridge
- Ruth Astle
- Lisa Norden
- Debbie Greig
- Janien Lubben
- Camille Deligny
- Vanessa Pereira
- Margie Santimaria
- Margrit Elfers
- Maja Betz
- Lina-Kristin Schink
- Elisabetta Curridori
- Annika Timm
- Elena Illeditsch
- Johanna Ahrens
- Henrike Güber
- Hannah Arlom
- Line Borsinski
- Leonie Zumhasch
- Jamie Albert
- Katrine Græsbøll Christensen
- Magda Nieuwoudt
Men:
- Magnus Ditlev
- Patrick Lange
- Sam Laidlow
- Sebastian Kienle
- Daniel Baekkegard
- Andreas Dreitz
- Joe Skipper
- Ben Kanute
- Nils Frommhold
- Clement Mignon
- Bradley Weiss
- Reece Barclay
- Victor Arroyo
- Silas Köhn
- Simon Billeau
- Erik-Simon Strijk
- Jason Pohl
- Andrew Horsfall-Turner
- Hannes Wolpert
- Jesse Vondracek
- Markus Thomschke
- Jean-Claude Besse
- Nicolas Quenette
- Alberto Casillas
- Chris Dels
- Ernest Mantell
