Triathlon hit in Roth: Schomburg and Philipp are chasing records!

Triathlon hit in Roth: Schomburg and Philipp are chasing records!

The countdown for the DATEV Challenge Roth 2025 is in full swing. On Sunday, July 6th at 6:15 a.m., the starting signal will be fired for the event that thrills triathlon fans from all over the world. This year there is a lot of excitement in the game, as top-class athletes are at the start and expectations for new world records are high. Donaukurier reports that new world records have been set for both men and women in the last two years. This trend could continue if Jonas Schomburg, the German Olympic starter, takes part in the competition. After dropping out at the Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt, he decided to start in Roth at short notice and has his sights set on breaking Magnus Ditlev's world record (7:23:24 hours).

But Schomburg is not the only star in the field. Among the women, Laura Philipp is considered the top favorite after recently achieving a strong time of 8:03:13 hours at the Ironman European Championships. Philipp has set himself the goal of becoming the first woman to break the eight-hour mark - an ambitious plan that is certainly within reach, as Anne Haug's current world best time is 8:02:38 hours. Other athletes are also highly motivated: Sam Laidlow describes the Challenge Roth as the most important race of the season and is returning after a long injury break.

An impressive field of participants

The DATEV Challenge Roth 2025 promises a triathlon festival with more than just professionals. Participants include world champions, Roth winners, Olympians and even Paralympics champions. A diverse starting field that not only ensures excitement on the track, but also brings with it a lot of history and sporting spirit. Challenge Family reported that the athletes will also include Daniel Bækkegård, third at Challenge Roth 2023, and Tom Bishop, last year's runner-up.

Particularly interesting is the debut of Vincent Luis, a two-time world champion in the short distance, who is now taking on the challenge of the long distance. Martin Schulz, Germany's most successful paratriathlete, is also making his long-distance debut, while Finn Große-Freese, who won Ironman Austria 2025, wants to demonstrate his skills. Fred Funk will be competing for the first time with a connection to Challenge Roth.

Weather conditions and preparations

The water temperature in the Main-Danube Canal is quite pleasant at 25.8 degrees. However, this means that wetsuits will be prohibited in the race. These conditions could pose an additional challenge for the athletes. In the favorites round, only Schomburg believed that a world best time could be achieved on Sunday. The competition is strong and each participant has their own ambitions.

The Challenge Roth has made a name for itself and will once again attract the best athletes in 2025. With so many promising participants, this year's event could be even more legendary than ever before. Athletes from all over the world come together to experience an unforgettable race and potentially set new records. The stage is set and the entire sports world is looking forward to Roth. Wikipedia already shows how the times have developed over the years - will the 8-hour mark for women soon fall? A spectacle not to be missed!