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Anne Haug aiming to ‘seize the opportunity’ after ‘spontaneous’ decision to race Challenge Roth

It was a late call to join the party but can Anne Haug make the decision to return to Challenge Roth pay off with a third win?
News Director
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Anne Haug is looking to seize the opportunity and grab a third victory at Challenge Roth after her late change of plan to take part on home turf.

Haug, who won the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship, is a two-time winner at Challenge Roth and was runner-up last year when Daniela Ryf shattered the previous fastest women’s time for the full distance.

Haug’s top-level consistency is simply astonishing – she last finished off the podium back in 2018 when fourth at IRONMAN Frankfurt.

But this season has been a struggle. Injury and illness has prompted a very different schedule than she expected but she’s still managed to claim a record-breaking win at IRONMAN Lanzarote.

And last time out she took part in the age-group event at IRONMAN 70.3 Nice in order to test the fitness and get a look at this year’s IMWC course.

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‘I’ve grown up with Roth’

And speaking at Thursday’s press conference ahead of Roth she admitted: “It was really spontaneous to be here! My season has gone completely differently to how I planned but life sometimes tells you different things and new opportunities open up.

“I had to cancel my first races this year and I was happy to get back to training. This went well and I had a feeling that the form was right – I just wanted to do a high quality race and to be at Roth.

“I felt well and fit enough and I just wanted to compete with a strong competition. I’ve grown up with Roth and I wanted to seize the opportunity to start.”

Tactical battle?

On paper at least it looks like a battle between Haug and fellow German Laura Philipp, with the pair second and third respectively 12 months ago.

Anne Haug Laura Philipp Challenge Roth press conference 2024
Anne Haug at the pre-race press conference [Photo credit: Challenge Roth]

And Haug added: “I’m looking forward to Sunday with such a fantastic field.

“I think it’s going to be a tight race all of us are on the same level – there’s no super swimmer who might tear up the field.

I think it will really need an excellent day to be at the top and that makes it ultra exciting and I think it will be a very clean race.

“There are a lot of tactics involved and we just have to push each other. Daniela set a benchmark last year and you grow with this challenge.”

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.  
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