Posted: June 25, 2006

Triathlon: Latest news from Quelle Challenge Roth

New athletes join field; entries for 2007 will open July 2

The Franconian hamlet of Roth, Germany is readying for the fifth anniversary running of the independent Quelle Challenge Roth, the world’s largest long-course triathlon, on Sunday, July 2. The race, formerly known as Ironman Europe, broke its ties to the World Triathlon Corporation and staged its first race as an independent in 2002.

The already world-class field grew deeper this week with the announcement that Erika Csomor of Hungary, a former world duathlon champion and a past Ironman Austria winner, will be on the start line for the third time in Roth, where her best finish was second in 2003. Also joining the field, fresh from a third-place finish at Ironman Brazil, is German iron-distance ace and two-time IM Brazil winner Olaf Sabatschus.

Defending champion Chris McCormack, whose Kestrel was stolen in England a week ago, was able to get a replacement bike shipped over and has been out training. On Sunday, he won the Olympic-distance Rothsee Triathlon for the fourth consecutive year. Defending women’s champion, fellow Aussie Belinda Granger, has been training on the now-familiar roads of Roth for some time, and race newcomer Joanna Lawn of New Zealand, with husband Armando Galarraga, is settling in with her homestay family and readying for race week.

Race organizers are comparing the excitement in Roth, which has hosted iron-distance triathlon for nearly 20 years, to the World Cup fever that has swept Germany as it hosts that global event with the slogan, “A time to make friends.”™ “That’s what we’ve been doing in Roth for years,” said race director Felix Walchshöfer.

A tremendous finish-line party is in the works for Sunday night after the last finishers cross the line in the Triathlon Park. Samba dancers from Brazil will entertain the stadium full of spectators and athletes, followed by a free concert from German singing sensation Joana Zimmer and a massive fireworks display.

Race Date For 2007

The Quelle Challenge Roth reached its capacity of 2,700 individual entries and 1,700 athletes in relay teams in late December, making Roth by far the largest event on the ultra-distance calendar. The 2007 date will be Sunday, June 24; online entries will be taken at the race website at www.challenge-roth.com beginning July 2. The race is expected to fill in two months.

For live coverage, visit www.challenge-live.com starting at 6 a.m. CEST on Sunday, July 2.

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, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpoltstein, Coca-Cola, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Flor & Sohn and Spedition Heinloth.

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