Defending champion Sam Laidlow believes he will need to set a new course record on Sunday if he is to have any chance of retaining his Challenge Roth title.

The Frenchman has set himself the target of finishing ‘between five and ten minutes faster’ than the current best time of 7:23:24 set by Dane Magnus Ditlev back in 2024.

Fully aware that the quality field assembled has eyes on the prize that he won so spectacularly 12 months ago, Laidlow accepts it is going to take something special to ensure that he is once again standing tallest on the podium come Sunday.

Blummenfelt keen to add Roth to long CV of titles

Chief among those looking to topple the 2025 champion is Norwegian powerhouse Kristian Blummenfelt, who will be making his debut at one of the few major races on the triathlon calendar which doesn’t yet appear on his CV of titles and championships.

The social media sparring between the two has crackled ever since they confirmed their intention to race in Bavaria this weekend, adding an extra layer of spice to what could be one of the races of the season. Indeed, their class is such that whoever wins this battle of the big guns will, in all likelihood, have also done enough to win Challenge Roth.

Laidlow will be looking for a flying start in the swim, hope to open up a decent gap on the bike, and then pray that his advantage over ‘Big Blu’ is sufficient to keep the phenomenal running powers of the Norwegian at bay.

“If you frustrate Kristian, he’s only going to pedal harder – so I don’t want to frustrate him too much, as I really want to beat him,” said Laidlow at the pre-race press conference yesterday. “There’s a natural fight in racing. We all like and respect each other, but when the gun goes off, I really want to beat these guys and win.

‘Going to be essential to get a new course record’

“I think it’s going to be essential to get a new course record to win this weekend. Things have moved on since Magnus got the record – nutrition, technology and the like. My goal is to go between five and 10 minutes faster – if that’s fast enough to beat these guys, we’ll see. I’ll always try to win.

“Worst case I let Kristian beat me now, and I win in Kona. Best case I win this weekend.”

Much of Blummenfelt’s success has been built around his rigorous training regime and the crunching of data and numbers in an attempt to give him as much of an edge over his rivals as possible.

However, this weekend may yet see a change in approach from a man who has already won an IRONMAN and two 70.3 races this year, particularly as he expects the likes of Laidlow and the German pair of Jonas Schomburg and Rico Bergen to set a fierce early pace.
“For once I’m going to have to ignore the numbers to a degree so I can be in the race, especially as I know Rico, Sam and Jonas are going to take the race out hard,” he said. “Racing against guys like this, the data has numbers I think I can hold, but it’s also important to follow the field. I’m expecting them to open up a big gap for the run.”

Has Schomburg learnt his pacing lessons?

Schomburg, second to Laidlow last year, is certainly dangerous enough to challenge once again, but he will need to improve both his pacing and nutrition intake if he is to knock either of them off top spot.

Twice this season, the German has exited T2 ahead of Blummenfelt, only to then be hunted down and left in the Norwegian’s wake. His experience at IRONMAN Texas was particularly tough to take, and he will need to have learnt the tough lessons dished out that day.

It won’t, however, result in him changing his overall approach to racing as he looks to go fast and enjoy the thrills that Challenge Roth delivers in abundance.

“Going on the offensive has always worked for me, so why change a winning system?” he said. “After Texas I learnt the hard way, and it was pretty brutal; I went too hard in the first 5km, so I’m hoping this time I can pace it better.

‘I have never experienced an atmosphere like this’

“I’ll have to see what kind of marathon I have in me – I usually aim for 2:26, perhaps I can go a little faster and implement better pacing and drink better, and hopefully I’ll be able to compete better.

“I was surprised last year; I heard so much about this race, but being here doesn’t compare – Solar Hill, the finishing stadium. It makes it really special, and I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like this in the world, not even the Olympics.”