Posted: October 28, 2005

Triathlon: Al-Sultan joins men’s field for Quelle Challenge Roth 2006

Faris Al-Sultan, fresh off winning the Ironman world championship in Hawaii, has confirmed that he will start at the Quelle Challenge Roth, the world's largest iron-distance triathlon, on July 2, 2006.

Al-Sultan last raced in Roth in 2004, when he battled all day with Australia's Chris McCormack before surrendering the lead a few kilometers before the finish on the marathon run and finished second. Both men dipped under the coveted eight-hour mark that day. As the first German across the line, Al-Sultan also earned the German long-course championship crown, a title he was unable to defend this year because of an injury sustained just a couple of weeks before the race in Roth.

"I know that Mark Allen and Greg Welch, as Hawaii champions, faced strong German competition at Ironman Europe in Roth and did not win," Al-Sultan said. "While no Hawaii champions have accomplished this yet in Roth, it's for me a beautiful challenge to break this spell!"

Race director Herbert Walchshöfer said he was thrilled with the news: “Faris has lots of fans here, and his decision to race in Roth shows how much our race matters to long-course athletes.”

Entries are still available for the Quelle Challenge Roth, but the popular relay division is nearly filled. For more information about the race or to enter, visit www.challenge-roth.com.

Quelle Challenge Roth’s sponsors include: Quelle AG, Deutsche Post AG, N-ERGIE, PRO4, Newline, Nürnberger Nachrichten (Nürnberg Newspapers), Bayrische Versicherungskammer, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Süd, Arndt, Mavic, INKO Energy, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpoltstein, Coca-Cola, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Flor & Sohn, Spedition Heinloth, and BIESTMILCH.