In contrast to the soaring temperatures of Ironman Frankfurt last weekend, it was a rather cooler affair in Roth today for one of the world’s greatest triathlons, with clouds and rain. The rain eased as the day progressed and it might not have been perfect weather for sun worshippers but, given the recent hot weather in Germany, this was very welcome, and provided almost perfect racing conditions for the triathletes.
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Challenge Roth is set in and around the beautiful and picturesque Bavarian town of Roth. It all starts at daybreak with the 3.8km swim in the Main-Donau Kanal, where spectators flank the canal banks and bridge over the swim start. The water temperature was 24.4°C that meant, for the pros, it was a non-wetsuit swim.
The international field for the women’s race included many heavyweights from the world of triathlon. As well as Lucy Charles-Barclay from Great Britain they included last year’s winner Daniela Bleymehl from Germany, and Australian Sarah Crowley, who came third at the 2017 Ironman World Championships.
As expected Charles-Barclay was the first athlete out of the swim, in a time of 50:40, 3:49mins ahead of the next swimmer Rachel McBride from Canada.
By the time she’d covered 55km of the 180km bike leg, Charles–Barclay had extended this lead to 7:15mins over the chase group of five, which included Cowley. Last year’s winner Bleymehl was at this point 40secs behind this group yet, by the Solarer Berg climb – triathlon’s noisiest, most raucous and greatest spectacle with tens of thousands supporters cheering – she’d not only joined this group but also overtaken them to go into second.
Bleymehl clearly meant business and wanted to defend her title, but would she pay for this effort later? Or would there be a repeat duel of last year? At just before the halfway point of the bike leg Charles-Barclay was still in front, with a healthy lead of 7:18 mins over Bleymehl, while Crowley was in third.
Into T2 the order stayed the same: Charles-Barclay, followed by Bleymehl, but the German’s second place was short-lived as 7km into the run Crowley passed her to go into 2nd position.
Crowley was now running around 8secs faster per km than Charles Barclay – could the Brit hold on? At 14.5km Charles-Barclay’s lead was down to 4:02mins, but Crowley couldn’t maintain this speed and, by 28km, Charles-Barclay’s lead was back to around 5mins. With 14km to go victory started to look assured for the Brit.
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Charles-Barclay crossed the line in a time of 8:31:09 (a new Iron PB for her and the fourth fastest time ever for a British female triathlete at Roth), with Crowley crossing the finish line 6:30mins later in second. Daniela Bleymehl finished third.
We chat to a very happy @LucyAnneCharles about winning @ChallengeRoth1, getting a PB -and whether her thoughts have started to turn to Kona…. pic.twitter.com/VYlSx3SLU7
— 220Triathlon (@220Triathlon) July 7, 2019
DATEV Challenge Roth 2019 top three women – what a race! Congratulations @LucyAnneCharles @Sarah_Crowley1 and Daniela Bleymehl! #challengeroth #triathlon pic.twitter.com/K39v70LHx5
— Challenge Roth (@ChallengeRoth1) July 7, 2019
Did you know…? 7 quirky facts about Challenge Roth
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The day may have been overcast with clouds and drops of rain, but the home crowds were anything but when it became clear a home victory was likely, as local boy Andi Dreitz powered his way round.
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Jesper Svensson from Sweden was first out of the 3.8km swim in 49:46mins, with Kiwi Braden Currie 30secs behind in a time of 50:16, followed by Andy Potts from the USA in 50:20. Fourth out was David McNamee from Britain in 50:21 and Dreitz was fifth in 51:28.
Dreitz led the race from 40km on the bike claiming the fastest 180km split of the day in 4:13:12, but his lead into T2 was tight with Andi Bocherer from Germany just 3secs behind and Potts 3:11 away. The three Andys had dominated the bike leg at Roth.
However, Dreitz wasn’t going to relinquish his lead and by 8km he had 1:28mins of daylight over Bocherer. Potts had slipped to fourth behind Australian Cameron Wurf, who, after a disappointing swim that left him at the back of the field, had powered through the pack on his bike, and was now doing the same on the run.
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Bocherer also started to fall down the field and swim leader Svensson soon overtook him, running a 2:48:43 marathon to claim second place in 8:02:20. Wurf finished in third, in a time of 8:04:08.
The fastest run of the day, 2:41:01, was posted by British pro David McNamee. A puncture on the bike leg denied him a place on the podium, but an amazing marathon meant he finished fifth and with questions of what might have been?
But the day belonged to local hero Dreitz who finished in a time of 7:59:02, over 3mins ahead of Svensson.
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He said: “I went through many ups and downs today. This victory here is insane. This is the best finish line in the world.”
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Congrats Jasper & Andi
The day may have been overcast with clouds and drops of rain, but the home crowds were anything but when it became clear a home victory was likely, as local boy Andi Dreitz powered his way round.
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Jesper Svensson from Sweden was first out of the 3.8km swim in 49:46mins, with Kiwi Braden Currie 30secs behind in a time of 50:16, followed by Andy Potts from the USA in 50:20. Fourth out was David McNamee from Britain in 50:21 and Dreitz was fifth in 51:28.
Dreitz led the race from 40km on the bike claiming the fastest 180km split of the day in 4:13:12, but his lead into T2 was tight with Andi Bocherer from Germany just 3secs behind and Potts 3:11 away. The three Andys had dominated the bike leg at Roth.
However, Dreitz wasn’t going to relinquish his lead and by 8km he had 1:28mins of daylight over Bocherer. Potts had slipped to fourth behind Australian Cameron Wurf, who, after a disappointing swim that left him at the back of the field, had powered through the pack on his bike, and was now doing the same on the run.
Bocherer also started to fall down the field and swim leader Svensson soon overtook him, running a 2:48:43 marathon to claim second place in 8:02:20. Wurf finished in third, in a time of 8:04:08.
The fastest run of the day, 2:41:01, was posted by British pro David McNamee. A puncture on the bike leg denied him a place on the podium, but an amazing marathon meant he finished fifth and with questions of what might have been?
But the day belonged to local hero Dreitz who finished in a time of 7:59:02, over 3mins ahead of Svensson.
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He said: “I went through many ups and downs today. This victory here is insane. This is the best finish line in the world.”
View this post on Instagram
Congrats Jasper & Andi
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1. When wet ‘n wild, anything can happen: Sodden roads on a twisting city centre course were always going to lead to an incident-packed bike leg and so it proved. Normally the prudent tactic to stay out of trouble and mitigate risks would be to gain a position towards the head of the race. Unfortunately, when the leader goes down – as was the case with Denmark’s Andreas Schilling – even that approach comes unstuck. Schilling’s spill caused a pile-up behind that ended the challenge of a clutch of the main contenders including Britain’s Jonny Brownlee and Tom Bishop, South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and Richard Murray and the series leader Fernando Alarza. It was worse still for Hungary’s Bence Bicsak, whose season looks to be over after breaking a bone in his leg.
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2. Stanford peaking at just the right time: It’s hard not to get carried away at the sight of Non Stanford running clear of Cassandre Beaugrand to clock a 5km split of 16:04 for her first WTS win in over three years and arguably her best result in almost six. The Welshwoman has been gradually improving all season and finally free of the injuries that have plagued her in recent years, she looks on the perfect trajectory to be even better come the Tokyo test event – her most important race of the season. The GB selection criteria means only Vicky Holland, as an existing Olympic medallist, can officially qualify at the mid-August race. But if Stanford were to be best of the Brits and show she can cope with the heat, humidity and other demands of the Far East, then it would go a long way to securing one of the three available slots.
3. Joel Filliol’s squad consistently the best: It is little wonder the world’s best triathletes gravitate towards the self-named JFT Crew. The Canadian coach is an understated personality yet a world-beater when it comes to results and Hamburg was just the latest example. As well Stanford’s victory, Filliol’s charges filled the top four spots on the men’s leaderboard. His approach seems to nurture triathletes to success against a gruelling global schedule. It may be cruel to single out those that have moved away from the group, but since Richard Murray departed, the South African has battled injury and barely featured at the pointy end of races.
4. Need to stay in the relay mix: Both Britain and the USA’s mixed relay quartets below par showing illustrated how a clutch of superstar performers cannot compensate for one weak leg in this format. When Jess Learmonth and Eli Hemming fell off the pace, not only did their team-mates had to chase down a deficit but they had to do it solo against the combined strength of the main pack. Breaks off the front might not always win a race, but slipping up at the back will more than often lose it.
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5. French fancied for Tokyo: When it comes to predicting the inaugural winners of the Olympic triathlon mixed relay in 2020, it’s impossible to look past the French at present. With short course racing honed on their own popular French Grand Prix circuit, the possess all-round strength in depth across all disciplines and both genders, from Vincent Luis, Leo Bergere and Dorian Coninx to Cassandre Beaugrand, Leonie Periault and Sandra Dodet. It always seems enough to keep them in the mix on the first three legs before handing over for Luis to strike on the anchor – a role he’s performed successfully three times in five years.
1. When wet ‘n wild, anything can happen: Sodden roads on a twisting city centre course were always going to lead to an incident-packed bike leg and so it proved. Normally the prudent tactic to stay out of trouble and mitigate risks would be to gain a position towards the head of the race. Unfortunately, when the leader goes down – as was the case with Denmark’s Andreas Schilling – even that approach comes unstuck. Schilling’s spill caused a pile-up behind that ended the challenge of a clutch of the main contenders including Britain’s Jonny Brownlee and Tom Bishop, South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and Richard Murray and the series leader Fernando Alarza. It was worse still for Hungary’s Bence Bicsak, whose season looks to be over after breaking a bone in his leg.
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2. Stanford peaking at just the right time: It’s hard not to get carried away at the sight of Non Stanford running clear of Cassandre Beaugrand to clock a 5km split of 16:04 for her first WTS win in over three years and arguably her best result in almost six. The Welshwoman has been gradually improving all season and finally free of the injuries that have plagued her in recent years, she looks on the perfect trajectory to be even better come the Tokyo test event – her most important race of the season. The GB selection criteria means only Vicky Holland, as an existing Olympic medallist, can officially qualify at the mid-August race. But if Stanford were to be best of the Brits and show she can cope with the heat, humidity and other demands of the Far East, then it would go a long way to securing one of the three available slots.
3. Joel Filliol’s squad consistently the best: It is little wonder the world’s best triathletes gravitate towards the self-named JFT Crew. The Canadian coach is an understated personality yet a world-beater when it comes to results and Hamburg was just the latest example. As well Stanford’s victory, Filliol’s charges filled the top four spots on the men’s leaderboard. His approach seems to nurture triathletes to success against a gruelling global schedule. It may be cruel to single out those that have moved away from the group, but since Richard Murray departed, the South African has battled injury and barely featured at the pointy end of races.
4. Need to stay in the relay mix: Both Britain and the USA’s mixed relay quartets below par showing illustrated how a clutch of superstar performers cannot compensate for one weak leg in this format. When Jess Learmonth and Eli Hemming fell off the pace, not only did their team-mates had to chase down a deficit but they had to do it solo against the combined strength of the main pack. Breaks off the front might not always win a race, but slipping up at the back will more than often lose it.
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5. French fancied for Tokyo: When it comes to predicting the inaugural winners of the Olympic triathlon mixed relay in 2020, it’s impossible to look past the French at present. With short course racing honed on their own popular French Grand Prix circuit, the possess all-round strength in depth across all disciplines and both genders, from Vincent Luis, Leo Bergere and Dorian Coninx to Cassandre Beaugrand, Leonie Periault and Sandra Dodet. It always seems enough to keep them in the mix on the first three legs before handing over for Luis to strike on the anchor – a role he’s performed successfully three times in five years.
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Based on course statistics, we once named the Croyde Ocean Triathlon the fifth-hardest Olympic-distance triathlon in the world.
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Having done 2019’s event this weekend in North Devon (and finished in 323rd place), we can confirm this is one tough cookie of a challenge, with a sea swim, relentlessly-rolling 40km bike and a mixed terrain 12km run along coastal paths where, for us at least, the only option was a rueful smile and to walk the multiple inclines. And all in scorching conditions with barely a breeze to sooth the skin.
Sunday’s race was the fifth consecutive Croyde Ocean Triathlon, and its sell out field of 480 (150 were on the waiting list) and number of repeat athletes is testament to the friendly feel of the race and a jaw-dropping course (is there a better view in UK tri than the run course one over Saunton Sands?) that entices multiple visits to this gorgeous corner of Devon.
The race saw two-time winner and local lifeguard Jack Hutchens exit the 1.5km swim alongside Bristol’s David Langston in just 19:31, before Hutchens extended his narrow advantage after the steep transition run and T1 to 29secs.
Hutchens then posted the fastest 40km bike and 12km run splits of the day to break the tape in 2:16:33, establishing a new course record by over five minutes. Second place went to fellow Croyde lifeguard Oli Wright and bronze went to Matt Cox. Stepping into the lead was Newbury’s Victoria Duncan, who was overall winner by a comfortable 7mins, beating Rebecca Stobart (Cornwall) into second place and London’s Claire Pepper into third.
There were over 40 relay teams taking part, with ‘Snot and Dribble’ in first place for the males. First in the female category were JCB, the Family Cup went to Family Elphick and the first mixed team was Team 76 77 78. There was even a finish line proposal between Croyde Tri regulars Ashley Kirkham and Victoria Doran.
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2020’s Croyde Ocean Triathlon in association with the Pickwell Foundation is taking place on Sunday 12 July. Limited early bird entries are available at www.croydeocean.co.uk
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Based on course statistics, we once named the Croyde Ocean Triathlon the fifth-hardest Olympic-distance triathlon in the world.
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Having done 2019’s event this weekend in North Devon (and finished in 323rd place), we can confirm this is one tough cookie of a challenge, with a sea swim, relentlessly-rolling 40km bike and a mixed terrain 12km run along coastal paths where, for us at least, the only option was a rueful smile and to walk the multiple inclines. And all in scorching conditions with barely a breeze to sooth the skin.
Sunday’s race was the fifth consecutive Croyde Ocean Triathlon, and its sell out field of 480 (150 were on the waiting list) and number of repeat athletes is testament to the friendly feel of the race and a jaw-dropping course (is there a better view in UK tri than the run course one over Saunton Sands?) that entices multiple visits to this gorgeous corner of Devon.
The race saw two-time winner and local lifeguard Jack Hutchens exit the 1.5km swim alongside Bristol’s David Langston in just 19:31, before Hutchens extended his narrow advantage after the steep transition run and T1 to 29secs.
Hutchens then posted the fastest 40km bike and 12km run splits of the day to break the tape in 2:16:33, establishing a new course record by over five minutes. Second place went to fellow Croyde lifeguard Oli Wright and bronze went to Matt Cox. Stepping into the lead was Newbury’s Victoria Duncan, who was overall winner by a comfortable 7mins, beating Rebecca Stobart (Cornwall) into second place and London’s Claire Pepper into third.
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There were over 40 relay teams taking part, with ‘Snot and Dribble’ in first place for the males. First in the female category were JCB, the Family Cup went to Family Elphick and the first mixed team was Team 76 77 78. There was even a finish line proposal between Croyde Tri regulars Ashley Kirkham and Victoria Doran.
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2020’s Croyde Ocean Triathlon in association with the Pickwell Foundation is taking place on Sunday 12 July. Limited early bird entries are available at www.croydeocean.co.uk
Australian Emma Jackson took advantage of the absence of the top-ranked contenders to register her first triumph in the World Triathlon Series.
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The 27-year-old, who hadn’t been on a WTS podium since 2014, out-sprinted the USA’s Summer Rappaport with fellow Aussie Ashleigh Gentle in third.
Scotland’s Beth Potter, the reigning European champion, who was making her first World Series start, ran through the field to finish 13th, with fellow Brit Sophie Coldwell in 15th.
Edmonton in Canada played host to the penultimate WTS event of the eight-race season, with only the Grand Final in Lausanne still to come.
With the series darting from Montreal to Hamburg and then back to North America in recent weeks, and with triathletes prioritising the Tokyo test event next month, there was a reduced field of 42 women starting, with the top three-ranked triathletes, Katie Zafares, Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown all absent.
Also missing was last year’s Edmonton winner and reigning world champion Vicky Holland, who after dealing with a troublesome Achilles injury was hit with a stomach bug.
Spain’s Sara Perez Sala was closely followed by Coldwell and Rappaport for the early stages of the non-wetsuit 750m lake swim, before the American took charge to lead out of the water and run up into T1.
Rappaport and Coldwell were slickest through transition and were joined by Taylor Spivey – the highest ranked athlete in the field – to open a 16sec gap on the field by the end of the first of five bike laps.
However, by the time they swept back through Hawrelak Park for the end of lap two they’d been hauled back to form a lead group of 19 triathletes, with Potter in the chasing group, 33sec adrift.
In a largely uneventful 22km bike leg, it was a surprise was to see World Under-23 champion Taylor Knibb, fourth in Abu Dhabi and fifth in Montreal and a renowned cyclist in triathlon, slip off the pace.
Knowing she was unlikely to contend on the run, Coldwell remained the main aggressor on the bike and was first to dismount ahead of T2, but it was Australian Jaz Hedgeland who struck out first on the 5km run.
Rappaport then pushed through to the front, before Gentle eased alongside with Belgian Clare Michel and Jackson also in close attendance.
It came down to a battle between the four in the final mile and although Jackson looked to be flagging at times, she held strong enough to take the tape.
It was also another success for the Joel Filliol trained group of athletes, adding to Non Stanford and Jake Birtwhistle’s wins in Hamburg in the previous round of WTS racing.
“It’s quite emotional wining my first WTS,” Jackson said. “I had good run in Montreal and Hamburg but had been in the chasing [bike] pack and hadn’t been able to show what I’m capable off. To be here today and actually win is quite unbelievable.”
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With five races plus the Grand Final counting, Zafares – who narrowly missed out to Holland last year – will be assured of winning the world title provided she finishes no lower than 12th.
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Australian Emma Jackson took advantage of the absence of the top-ranked contenders to register her first triumph in the World Triathlon Series.
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The 27-year-old, who hadn’t been on a WTS podium since 2014, out-sprinted the USA’s Summer Rappaport with fellow Aussie Ashleigh Gentle in third.
Scotland’s Beth Potter, the reigning European champion, who was making her first World Series start, ran through the field to finish 13th, with fellow Brit Sophie Coldwell in 15th.
Edmonton in Canada played host to the penultimate WTS event of the eight-race season, with only the Grand Final in Lausanne still to come.
With the series darting from Montreal to Hamburg and then back to North America in recent weeks, and with triathletes prioritising the Tokyo test event next month, there was a reduced field of 42 women starting, with the top three-ranked triathletes, Katie Zafares, Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown all absent.
Also missing was last year’s Edmonton winner and reigning world champion Vicky Holland, who after dealing with a troublesome Achilles injury was hit with a stomach bug.
Spain’s Sara Perez Sala was closely followed by Coldwell and Rappaport for the early stages of the non-wetsuit 750m lake swim, before the American took charge to lead out of the water and run up into T1.
Rappaport and Coldwell were slickest through transition and were joined by Taylor Spivey – the highest ranked athlete in the field – to open a 16sec gap on the field by the end of the first of five bike laps.
However, by the time they swept back through Hawrelak Park for the end of lap two they’d been hauled back to form a lead group of 19 triathletes, with Potter in the chasing group, 33sec adrift.
In a largely uneventful 22km bike leg, it was a surprise was to see World Under-23 champion Taylor Knibb, fourth in Abu Dhabi and fifth in Montreal and a renowned cyclist in triathlon, slip off the pace.
Knowing she was unlikely to contend on the run, Coldwell remained the main aggressor on the bike and was first to dismount ahead of T2, but it was Australian Jaz Hedgeland who struck out first on the 5km run.
Rappaport then pushed through to the front, before Gentle eased alongside with Belgian Clare Michel and Jackson also in close attendance.
It came down to a battle between the four in the final mile and although Jackson looked to be flagging at times, she held strong enough to take the tape.
It was also another success for the Joel Filliol trained group of athletes, adding to Non Stanford and Jake Birtwhistle’s wins in Hamburg in the previous round of WTS racing.
“It’s quite emotional wining my first WTS,” Jackson said. “I had good run in Montreal and Hamburg but had been in the chasing [bike] pack and hadn’t been able to show what I’m capable off. To be here today and actually win is quite unbelievable.”
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With five races plus the Grand Final counting, Zafares – who narrowly missed out to Holland last year – will be assured of winning the world title provided she finishes no lower than 12th.
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Double Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee took victory in Edmonton to show he’s still a force to be reckoned with at the top level of the sport.
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Brownlee hadn’t been on a World Triathlon Series podium since winning in Stockholm in 2017 and has had a miserable 2019 season, finishing an uncharacteristic 11th in Bermuda, 35th in Leeds and being unable to finish in Hamburg after a bike crash
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But he looked in imperious form in Canada, powering through all three disciplines to take the tape ahead of reigning world champion Mario Mola with Belgian Marten van Riel in third.
“I doubted myself a lot,” Brownlee admitted. “Athletes have short term memories and it doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past. I didn’t know if I’d get on a podium again, let alone win. It’s been tough but I’ve finally won something.
“The swim was great, I got some clear water, the bike we really committed, and then the run I felt really good. With a lap to go I knew I’d be alright.
“People say he’s past it and has had his best years, but I still feel my best races are to come.”
One of those races now looks more likely to be the test event in Tokyo next month where a podium finish will guarantee Brownlee selection for next year’s Olympics.
This was not a weak field either. In contrast to the earlier women’s race, most of the leading male contenders had turned up in Alberta in force.
It was testament to the most open world title race since the inception of the World Series in 2009, with triathletes looking for vital points ahead of the Grand Final in Lausanne.
Three Spaniards were in the top five of the rankings including Mola and Javier Gomez who have won the last six world titles between them.
Alex Yee was the leading Brit in the standings in 13th, but instead chose to race in athletics’ Anniversary Games in London where he posted a new 5km personal best of 13:29.
Series leader Luis set the pace in the 750m lake swim in Hawrelak Park in 8:30. Brownlee looked impressive to emerge in fifth, just 5sec back, and was able to form a strong front bike pack of five with Matt Hauser, Ben Kanute, Luis and Van Riel.
The quintet pushed hard to establish a 29sec gap in the first of five bike laps which had one short climb and a descent where speeds reached over 70km/h.
That lead was gradually whittled away, but Jake Birtwhistle, the only male triathlete to have won two WTS events this season – in Leeds and Hamburg – was an early retirement.
The lead group was 17sec ahead coming into T2, as a crash in in the chase pack as they approached transition left triathletes sprawled across the tarmac.
Brownlee looked strong from the start of the run and only Van Riel could stay with the pace. The Belgian’s resistance finally broken as they approached the last mile, but as Mola ran through for second, the Van Riel did enough to hold on for his first World Series podium.
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Mola moved up to second in the standings behind Luis, with everything still to play for in Lausanne.