Here’s what happened on the bike in the men’s race at Challenge Roth…
The big news at T1 was the significant three-minute gap that a front five of Sam Laidlow (FRA), German trio Rico Bogen, Jonas Schomburg and Finn Große-Freese plus Menno Koolhaas (NED) had opened up.
That quintet had worked brilliantly to distance pre-race favourite Kristian Blummefelt (NOR), who exited the water in sixth alongside Fred Funk (GER) – click here to read more about the swim.
Five down to three
As ever the roads in Roth were in perfect condition but the start of the bike did see the odd rain shower and a bit of a breeze it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of our leaders who were desperate to hammer home their hard-won advantage.
Schomburg and Laidlow were quickest through transition and they and Bogen went clear early on, with Koolhaas and Große-Freese 30 seconds back.
And the gaps continued to go out – after just 16.5km the front three were now 1:42 ahead of Koolhaas and Große-Freese, with Blummenfelt and Funk suddenly 4:42 adrift.
Uber-biker Magnus Ditlev had been just outside the top 10 in the swim but he quickly worked himself up to eighth at +5:11.
There are two words synonymous with Roth’s two-lap 180km bike course – Solar Berg – and tens of thousands of spectators again lined the most famous hill in triathlon.
It was Bogen, Laidlow and Schomburg who took the acclaim of the crowd first and rightly so as their advantage to the rest was now over five minutes.
Blummenfelt and Ditlev were by now up to fourth and fifth and it was game on.
Egos at play?
Speaking to TRI247 on the eve of the race, Big Blu told us: “I think Jonas Schomburg, Sam Laidlow and Rico Bogen will be three guys looking to showcase their bike power.
“I just hope there are a lot of egos in that group – while I can be pacing it more smartly in behind.”
Time would tell whether the front trio had gone off too hard but at the end of the first lap they were 5:30 in front of Ditlev and Blummenfelt, who were working well together in fourth and fifth respectively.
Koolhaas was +6:33 in sixth and then Høgenhaug, Funk and Große-Freese seventh, eighth and ninth at +9:23.
The rest were 10 minutes and more back, including three-time IRONMAN World Champion Patrick Lange (GER) at +13:58 in 14th.
Three becomes two
The trend continued until midway through lap two but Schomburg then started to lose ground on Bogen and Laidlow. He quickly lost a minute and the front two were relentless as they powered on.
There was one huge moment of alarm for Laidlow though when he got caught behind several age-groupers going up Solar Berg for the second time – only just managing to force his way through as he desperately tried to keep Bogen in sight.
As the crowds finally started to thin out he managed to get back with the German and the two of them were out on their own as they set sail for T2.
With 10km to go they were now a staggering 5:35 ahead of Schomburg in third and 11:15 in front of Blummenfelt and Ditlev in fourth and fifth.
Not long after Bogen and Laidlow flew into transition, with record bike splits to their name – 3:54:45 for Bogen and 3:54:58 for Laidlow, two incredible performances.
They didn’t lose any time going through transition either and were well on their way by moment Schomburg came in third at +6:54.
Ditlev was in fourth at +12:13 and Blummenfelt fourth at +12:22 – would that be too much for even a man with his running talents?
Koolhaas, Funk and Høgenhaug in sixth to eighth were the only others within 20 minutes of Bogen and Laidlow.
Bogen was out of T2 a handful of seconds ahead ahead of what promised to be a fascinating marathon.
Click here to watch how the rest of the race unfolds via the live broadcast.
READ MORE:
Challenge Roth men’s bike results
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Overall time after the bike | Gap to Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rico Bogen | GER | 4:43:09 | — |
| 2 | Sam Laidlow | FRA | 4:43:10 | +0:01 |
| 3 | Jonas Schomburg | GER | 4:50:03 | +6:54 |
| 4 | Magnus Ditlev | DEN | 4:55:22 | +12:13 |
| 5 | Kristian Blummenfelt | NOR | 4:55:31 | +12:22 |
| 6 | Menno Koolhaas | NED | 4:58:20 | +15:11 |
| 7 | Frederic Funk | GER | 4:58:29 | +15:20 |
| 8 | Kristian Høgenhaug | DEN | 4:58:32 | +15:23 |
| 9 | Will Draper | GBR | 5:03:39 | +20:30 |
| 10 | Tristan Olij | NED | 5:04:34 | +21:25 |
