Challenge Roth 2019 – Analyzing Results

Course Conditions

Compared to other years, 2019 was a slot year for Roth: A non-wetsuit swim for the Pros (very unusual for Roth) and wet roads after some light rain in the morning led to times roughly 6 minutes slower than last year.

Male Race Results

Jesper Svensson was the fastest swimmer, but a “group of three Andi/Andys” was lighting up the slippery bike course – not even allowing uber-biker Cameron Wurf to catch up to them. On the run, both Andy Potts and Andi Böcherer fell back, but Andi Dreitz had a great 2:51 marathon that allowed him to post the only sub-8 finish of the day and to take the win by three minutes.

Photo Credit: Ingo Kutsche

Jesper Svensson had the fastest swim of the day and fell back a bit on the bike, but then was able to move back into second place with a 2:48 marathon. Third place went to Cameron Wurf who posted a new run PB – his 2:50 marathon was 11 minutes quicker than last year and allowed him to hold the place he had in T2.

Female Race Results

On the female side, it was Lucy Charles who had an all-around good day, posting the fastest swim (of course!) and also the fastest run – er 2:59 was her first sub-3 marathon in a full-distance race. (She was ten seconds quicker at the shortened-swim IM South Africa earlier this year.) She was delighted to claim the top spot this year after finishing second last year.

Photo Credit: Ingo Kutsche

Sarah Crowley was losing time to Lucy in all three legs but was able to claim a solid second, posting a new personal best overall and on the marathon and claiming second place. Just a week after her DNF in Frankfurt, Daniela Bleymehl also posted a new PR (15 seconds quicker than last year’s winning time in Roth). She was working hard on the second loop of the bike to make up time to the Lucy and maybe put some ground between her and the stronger runners in her group. A solid 3:06 marathon saw her finish on the final podium spot.