Challenge Roth 2025 women's results: World Champion Laura Philipp a class apart

Home favourite Laura Philipp was a class apart as she added a first Challenge Roth crown to last year’s IRONMAN World Championship title.

The German superstar was in total control after moving into the lead in the second half of the bike leg.

In 2023 she was third at Roth in 8:25 as Daniela Ryf set a new world record full-distance time and then last year Philipp was runner-up in 8:14 when Anne Haug eclipsed Ryf’s mark 12 months ago with an astonishing 8:02:38.

Those results, combined with the fact that Philipp came into this race on the back of a brilliant win over Kat Matthews at IRONMAN Frankfurt last month in 8:03:13, meant speculation was high that a first-ever female sub-eight-hours time was within range.

However a non wetsuit swim on account of the very hot recent weather was always going to mitigate against that and Philipp rightly prioritised the race win.

She ran solo the whole way as she put daylight between herself and the rest of the field and crossed the line in 8:18:18.

That was fully 19 minutes clear of Grace Thek (AUS) in second on what was her first full-distance race, with Alanis Siffert (SUI) overhauling Nikki Bartlett (GBR) late on for the final spot on the podium.

“The eight hours will fall at some point,” said Philipp at the finish line. “The fact that it didn’t happen today doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

Swim – Siffert sets the pace

Calm conditions – and welcome cloud cover – greeted the athletes for the 3.8km swim in the Danube Canal.

And it was Siffert who set the tone with a power-packed start to the swim.

Thek managed to stick with her for a while but then Siffert, in what was just her third full-distance race, kicked again and moved clear.

She exited the water alone with a time of 52:31, 1:34 in front of Thek.

Philipp meanwhile was 5:44 adrift in 58:15, almost exactly three minutes slower than her wetsuit swim at Roth in 2024.

Bike – Philipp pulls clear late on

Onto the bike and any thoughts that Philipp would cruise into the lead early on were rapidly dispelled by Siffert.

Siffert had extended her lead over Thek to 2:21 after 16km, with Philipp in a group of four at +5:17 alongside Nina Derron (SUI), Bartlett and Lisa-Maria Dornauer (AUT).

But Dornauer dropped back in next 10k as the other three started to cut gap to Siffert and Thek.

Philipp was into second at 52km, 3:32 back, with Thek now taking her place alongside Derron and Bartlett at +4:14 and the gap to sixth and the rest already over eight minutes.

Siffert wasn’t stopping up front – the first time up Solarer Hill at 71km she still had 3:21 to spare over Philipp, with Derron, Thek and Bartlett now more than five minutes back.

But things did start to change on the second half of the bike. First the gap between Siffert and Philipp dipped below a minute and then at 140km came the catch.

Siffert was able to stay with her for a while but the elastic snapped late on and by the time they reached T2, Philipp was 2:21 to the good and seemingly in complete control.

Third at that point was Bartlett at +8:16, with Thek +8:52 and Merle Brunnée (GER) now up to fifth almost exactly 10 minutes back.

Run – Battle for podium spots

The run was one-way traffic as far as Philipp was concerned.

Her advantage at halfway was now over 10 minutes, with Bartlett having moved into second place.

Laura Philipp celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025 — Laura Philipp celebrates the victory [Photo credit: Challenge Roth]

But while the victory was virtually cut and dried, there was all sorts of drama for the podium places.

For Thek was starting to close on Bartlett – and would move alongside her with 10km remaining.

Thek then moved ahead as Bartlett was reduced to a walk and not long after a podium place disappeared for the Brit after what had been a difficult week.

That was because Siffert had found reserves and she flew past her and into third with 4km to go.

But even then it wasn’t over as Bartlett rallied and got Siffert back in range but the up-and-coming Swiss star held strong.