Following last year’s partnership between the Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons and the European Triathlon Union (ETU) that saw Challenge Kraichgau host the Half Distance Triathlon European Championships in 2012 – Challenge Kraichgau 2013 now welcomes a top-class starting field and a partnership with the Deutsche Triathlon Union (DTU).
The partnership between Challenge Kraichgau and the Deutsche Triathlon Union (DTU) follows a recently confirmed deal between DTU and DATEV Challenge Roth, the world’s largest long distance triathlon. DATEV Challenge Roth on 14 July, is now the venue for the official DTU long distance tri championships. The agreement between Challenge Family and the German Triathlon Union, sees the iconic Challenge Roth event run the German championships until at least 2017.
Sparkasse Challenge Kraichgau presented by KraichgauEnergie, scheduled to take place on 9 June 2013, is Europe’s largest middle distance event over the 1.9K/90K/21K distance. A shorter Olympic distance event (S-Distanz) also runs on the race weekend.
Due to current cool temperatures in Lake Hardt the organisers are monitoring the conditions this week, with a contingency plan in place to introduce a duathlon if temperatures do not pick up.
If implemented, the duathlon will take the following format:
- Challenge event: 5K run / 90K bike / 21.1K run
- S-Distanz event: 4K run / 40K bike / 10K run
“We expect an interesting weekend of exciting events around the German championship and the overall victory in the Challenge Kraichgau event,” said event organizer Björn Steinmetz. “After all the up and down weather days, we are full of anticipation. My thanks in advance already go to the many volunteers on the course.”
General Secretary of the German Triathlon Union, Matthias Zöll added, “We have been rewarded with excellent organization and the expertise of the race operators. Accordingly, we, as the governing body, are looking forward to a great weekend of triathlon.”
The defending Challenge Kraichgau women’s champion Julia Gajer leads a field of 3880 athletes, within the framework of the German middle distance triathlon championships. Gajer is joined by athletes such as Daniela Sämmler, Sonja Tajsich, Juliet Viellehner and Yvonne van Vlerken.
The mens’ race will again see a clash between Andreas Raelert and Timo Bracht. Other competitors for the title of German Champion and male victor at Challenge Kraichgau are the two-time Olympian Mike Petzold and Markus Fachbach.
