Posted: January 6, 2004

Triathlon: Firefighters Triathlon World Championship to be held at Quelle Challenge Roth

NÜRNBERG/ROTH, Germany (December 2, 2003) - More than 200 firefighters from across the world will heat things up at the 2004 Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters, July 4, 2004, at Quelle Challenge Roth, the world's largest ultra-distance race, in Roth, Germany.

The historic Bavarian race, which saw 2,750 athletes and 100,000 spectators in 2003, will test the world's fittest firefighters over the scenic 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, and 42 km run course, but this unique group of athletes are not new to the sport. Twenty years ago in 1984, Franz Michels, a firefighter from Nürnberg, was the fastest athlete at the Franconian Triathlon - the first triathlon ever in Roth. His win caused quite a stir among fans of triathlon, a sport only beginning to become what it is today. Some of the world's fastest triathletes today just happen to be firefighters, and they'll be at Roth in 2004.

Estonia's Margus Tamm is not only one of Estonia's Finest but also one of the world's fastest professional triathletes. A fireman-rescuer at the city of Tallinn's airport, he's a seven-time star in Roth, and finished eighth overall last summer, in 8:42:00. He was also second overall in the World's Best triathlon series, which tests an athlete at the Olympic, half-iron and iron distance races all in one month's time. Tamm competes at events around the globe, including the Ironman World Championships, in Hawaii.

For Tamm, coming to Roth each year is a special trip. "First, it means that I can visit my best friends in Germany, but also, the Roth competition is a wonderful race and the spectators are marvelous throughout whole distance," he said. "It will be fine to see other firemen of the world, and I hope this day will be fun for every competitor-fireman."

This past summer, 22-year-old Nürnberg firefighter Michael Hofmann, who races for TSV Roth sports club, won the Firefighters European Championship for Triathlon Olympic distance race in Duisburg, Germany. Hofmann beat Dutchman Richard van Diesen, who was the fifth place finisher overall at another German ultra-distance triathlon in 2002. Hofmann was just featured in the November issue of Germany's Triathlon magazine, too.

These top athletes and others will feed the fire and feel the lactic acid burn seven months from now in Roth, at the Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters.

"With the addition of the Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters, Quelle Challenge Roth continues to grow as the most dynamic ultra-distance triathlon in the world," said Herbert Walchshöfer, president, TEAMChallenge. "We know our spectators and other athletes will show great appreciation for these athletes and modern-day heroes, especially for their work in places of natural disaster and war. Their brotherhood of tireless, brave, super-fit people and will shine in Roth."

The fire brigades from the County of Roth will provide complimentary, private accommodations for their colleagues from all over the world. The Nürnberg fire service, working closely with the race, will put on a Firefighters' Show and firefighting vehicles, both historic and modern, will be used around Roth on race weekend. The firefighters' awards ceremony will be held at Roth's new fire station, right near the race site.

The 2004 Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters is held by TEAMChallenge GmbH on behalf of the Deutsche Feuerwehr-sportfoderation e.V. (German Firefighters Sports Association) and is organized in close cooperation with the fire brigades of the County of Roth and Nuremberg fire service. For further information, please call +49-911-8955000 or write to Info@Challenge-Roth.de.

For years, athletes, media and spectators often called the race "Quelle," even when its title was Quelle Ironman Europe. Sports such as tennis and golf have events known by their sponsors' names, but elsewhere this is unprecedented. Since the beginning of this 14-year relationship, neither Quelle nor race management imagined the name would stick so well, or that the bond, here, would be so strong.

Quelle Challenge Roth's sponsors include: Quelle AG, Deutsche Post AG, N-ERGIE, DB Regio, CarbonSports GmbH, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpolstein, Coca-Cola, Arndt, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Lorenz & Partner, NEFkom, Sparkasse Roth-Schwabach, INKO Energy, Flor & Sohn, Spedition Heinloth, Stadtbrauerei Roth, Mercedes Benz, and BIESTMILCH.

For more information on the July 4, 2004, Quelle Challenge Roth and Triathlon Festival, or to participate in the on-line forum, and to receive the event's newsletter, please visit www.challenge-roth.com.

From: Steve "Hammy" Handwerker