Search
shop

Head-to-head battle ‘would have been fun’: Roth hero Ditlev on Frodeno

Super-impressive Dane was looking forward to a good battle on the run before Jan Frodeno's Roth withdrawal
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

“I’m almost lost for words, it barely makes sense.”

That was Magnus Ditlev‘s immediate reaction after his emotional rollercoaster of a win at Challenge Roth on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Dane produced a course record bike split of 4:01:56 to join modern-day GOAT Jan Frodeno at the head of the race at T2.

But early on the run Ditlev was left on his own when Frodeno pulled up due to the Achilles injury which has hampered him in 2022.

A 2:40:22 marathon saw Ditlev crowned a worthy winner as he rounded off a superb all-round display in style to win by over nine minutes from former champion Patrick Lange (GER).

Advertisement

‘I was looking forward to a good battle’

And speaking soon after crossing the finish line, Ditlev said: “Everything just went according to plan and it’s very rare that it does that so I’m just so grateful.

DATEV Challenge Roth 2022 - Magnus Ditlev finish line
Photo Credit: Lars Pamler / Challenge Roth

“It’s a fantastic event with spectators all over the place and I just got carried all the way through.

“Right from the start you can feel the spectators and you were not alone at any point on the bike. And maybe there were even more spectators on the run, it was just incredible.”

There’s no doubt about the defining image of the race though – the moment Frodeno exited the event around 3km into the run.

“Yeah, that was a bit of a bummer because we were running the same pace and I was looking forward to a good battle,” said a gracious Ditlev of that moment.

“It’s not fun to win that way and it seems he has some problems still which is really a shame because it would have been fun to go head-to-head.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023 run
Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen issues last call for scholarship fund for young athletes
Norseman Triathlon 2023 Start
The Norseman 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live for ‘the race that makes athletes cry’
Jan Frodeno Cheesehead PTO Tour US Open 2023 Milwaukee
Triathlon legend Jan Frodeno goes outside his comfort zone to take on epic UTMB challenge
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...