Challenge Roth veteran Belinda Granger has backed German superstar Laura Philipp to create triathlon history this weekend by becoming the first woman to go under eight hours for a full-distance race.
The 2024 IRONMAN World Champion lines up for the iconic event having missed the magic mark by just three minutes and 13 seconds in her last event at Hamburg – and Granger believes the deceptively quick Roth course could be ideal for her to go even faster.
Speaking on the latest edition of the TRI247 podcast the Australian former winner told CEO and Race Director Felix Walchshöfer and TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill that while the men’s race is difficult to call, there is a definite clear favourite among the women.
One of the highlights of the competition calendar, Challenge Roth is very much seen as the ‘Home of Triathlon’ with thousands of fans expected to line the Bavarian streets in support of both professional and amateur participants.
Starting with a 3.8km swim in the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, the athletes then move onto a 178.5km bike ride around a two-lap course in the countryside south of Roth, before finishing with the marathon run along the canal and into the town centre.
And it is not only the racing that gets people excited, as the organisers throw a real party, complete with trade expo and a stunning laser show.
For Granger, there is nothing to beat it, and she is looking forward to an event to remember.
Philipp and a bid for triathlon history
“This year, the women’s race, I think, is pretty easy,” she said. “It will be Laura Philipp. She is in incredible form. Her race in Hamburg not so long ago was incredible, and I think we’re going to see huge things from her in Roth.
“I’m so excited just to see it unfold and to be there watching this year because I think we could see history being made. What she did in Hamburg with the torrential rain and the long transitions, and you just think if she goes out and puts it all together on the Roth course, with all that support. She has got that fire lit to come to Roth and get the win, so we could be in for an exciting race.
“She loves this race. She’s never won it before. So I know that she desperately wants to add this title to her already ridiculous list of titles. Roth is deceptive, because on paper, you see the hills and you think, it’s not going to be a fast course, but I can vouch that you will go faster than you think. And I think it’s the perfect setting for that first sub-eight.”
Walchshöfer was at Roth when Lothar Leder became the first man to break the eight-hour mark in 1996 and he too believes it could be possible this weekend. And he has also one eye on the men’s race as he notes there are many in the field who have yet to experience the full-distance triathlon.
Absolutely insane levels
“I was there in 1996 when Leder was the first man to go under eight hours over the Ironman distance. It can be the year that the first woman goes under eight hours,” he says. “That would be absolutely insane. And if someone can do it, then it will happen at Roth.
“We absolutely have so many quality athletes lining up who have participated in the Olympic Games, and also many from the half-distance competitions. We have ordered more cameras for the marathon because we don’t know what’s going on there. There can be a lot of athletes blowing up, and I think it’s going to be the most exciting race ever.”
While the women’s race has a clear favourite, the men’s field is very much open, with a host of names capable of crossing the line first on their day. However, Granger has two favourites amongst the pack now that three-time winning Dane Magnus Ditlev is not competing.
Level playing field for the men
“Normally I’m pretty good at this because we’ve had Magnus there several times in a row, and it was obvious that he was the favourite,” she said. “The men’s race, I really don’t know. I think, for the first time ever, we have a race where the playing field is quite equal, because we’ve got some athletes that are very experienced over this distance, but are coming into the race maybe not in their greatest shape or where they want to be.
“Then we also have some really, really top pro athletes who have never done this distance before. So there’s the unknown there. Vincent Louis, Aaron Royal and Frederick Funk are all brilliant over the middle distance and short course, but we just don’t know what they’re going to do over this distance.
“We’ve then got Sam Laidlow. If we get a fit and healthy Sam Laidlow on the start line, then he is unbeatable and he will be my pick to take the win. But are we going to get that? I don’t know. He’s been very secretive over the last couple of months and that tells me that he’s training very, very hard and that he will be in Roth in really good shape.
And TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill added: “I’d also love to see Frederick Funk have a really great race just because I think so far this year he’s not maybe done what he hoped at the races we’ve seen him at. And I know he has been training hard for Roth. So I’d love to see him do something special, but we shall see.” The German star is making his debut over the 140.6 mile distance, and given that Roth set the stage for his first ever triathlon some 22 years ago – it’s a fitting backdrop for his first hit out over the full distance.
