Lukas Stengel: Strong debut at Challenge Roth 2025 despite challenges!

Lukas Stengel: Strong debut at Challenge Roth 2025 despite challenges!

The triathlon scene in Roth is once again in a celebratory mood after the DATEV Challenge Roth 2025 on July 6th provided spectacular moments. With around 300,000 spectators and over 7,500 volunteers, the atmosphere on the day of the event was incomparable. Among the starters was Lukas Stengel, an athlete from the Roth triathlon district who has made a name for himself in recent years. Although he did not officially appear on the list of district starters, his fans cheered loudly and created a rousing atmosphere.

Stengel completed the race in 8:22 hours - a respectable result, especially since it was his first long distance under competitive conditions. “You can build on that,” explained Stengel, who showed mixed performances in the individual disciplines. In swimming, he noted that his performance was “mediocre” with a time of 53:08 minutes. On the bike, which led 180 kilometers through the picturesque Roth district, he completed the route in 4:17 hours and was relatively satisfied with it.

An emotional finale

The final marathon over 42.2 kilometers, however, was a real challenge for the athlete. The first 20 kilometers went “okay”, but then his energy waned. “I had difficulties because my carbohydrates were used up and my legs became heavy,” said Stengel. Friends and club colleague Alexander Richter, who ran with him from kilometer 30 onwards, were a great help. The emotions after crossing the finish line were palpable: a kiss from his companion and a few tears shed as he finished 38th.

In an honest moment after the competition, Stengel decided that he would now take a two-week break. He then plans to focus on middle distances and tackle another long distance in France towards the end of the year. The future looks bright for this talented athlete.

The Roth tradition

Corresponding to Stengel's personal success, the Challenge Roth was another milestone in the traditional history of triathlon in Roth. Since the first event in 1984, the Franconian Triathlon, the sport has developed significantly. In 1988 the event became IRONMAN EUROPE and after it was taken over by the Walchshöfer family in 2002 it was renamed today's Challenge Roth.

In the men's ranking, Sam Laidlow from France won with a fantastic time of 7:29:35 hours. Laura Philipp triumphed in the women's race with a time of 8:18:18 hours. Such performances demonstrate the high quality of the competition and the appeal that this long-distance triathlon has for international athletes.

The next few years promise exciting continuations of the tradition that characterizes this event and captivates both athletes and spectators. Roth remains an integral part of triathletes' calendars and is enjoying increasing popularity.

For more information about the event and the results, the details can be found in the articles from HDSports and Triathlon.de be read. You can find out more about Stengel's experiences and future plans in the report from Danube Courier.