Billed as the biggest Challenge Half distance race in Germany, in 2015, Sparkasse Challenge Heilbronn powered by Audi will roll out. The new Challenge-branded event, which kicks-off on 21 June 2015, is positioned less than one month before next year’s DATEV Challenge Roth.
With the event action taking place in the heart of the city, Heilbronn in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is around 160km west of Roth in Bavaria. Hence, the organisers point to Challenge Heilbronn as starting the ‘Road to Roth’.
(To help its athletes make advance plans for 2015, Challenge Family has already set the date for next year’s iconic Challenge Roth long distance triathlon. The DATEV Challenge Roth event will take place on 12 July 2015.)
The Sparkasse Challenge Heilbronn powered by Audi becomes the 28th and thus the youngest member of the Challenge Family of events.
The new Challenge branded event itself originates from the Sparkasse CityTriathlon Heilbronn powered by Audi. This event, over a period of five years, has been built up by its organisers Erich Hoffmann, Achim Kern and Christoph Troßbach at Sports & Event GBR – with it coming under the Challenge Family umbrella in 2015.
Challenge Family CEO, Zibi Szlufcik said “The triathlon family is enriched by the Sparkasse Challenge Heilbronn powered by Audi, which is not only excellently but primarily [it is], passionately, organised.”
Mitteninderstadt – in the very heart of the city
“In the very heart of the city – this remains our trademark and with this our recipe of success,” said Christoph Troßbach, who is part of the organising team at the new Challenge Heilbronn. “Because of its direct contact to the city the Sparkasse Challenge Heilbronn powered by Audi guarantees its athletes a top-triathlon race.”
Pulling together a ‘logistical feat’, Challenge Heilbronn aims to unify the entire competition area in the heart of the city. The surrounding hotels, alongside event registration, tri expo, press conference, pasta party, launch, swimming, transition zone, start / end of cycling, running and the hard-won finish line goal and the large athletes’ garden are no more than 400m apart!
Compact concept
“Compact, unified, centrally –just awesome,” said Challenge Heilbronn co-organiser Erich Hoffmann. He points to a number of features on the city-centric course. The swim in the River Neckar is followed by an ‘enchanting, nonetheless challenging bike ride through the beautiful vineyard scenery in Zabergäu.’
Along ‘romantic vineyards, the 90K bike course is on an ‘excellent paved’ road surface, with support from hundreds of volunteers. Back into the heart of the city, the 21K run winds through the city centre; and a finish in the ‘Marketplace Stadium’ in front of the historic town hall and thousands of spectators.
Achim Kern, the third co-organiser is enthusiastic about the event’s new branding for 2015. “Together with the Challenge Family, we want to welcome the world in Heilbronn! We accompany the athletes on their way to Roth and support them through a high-profile and perfectly organized event in the heart of the city. ”
- Challenge Half: 1.9K Swim / 90K Bike / 21K Run
- Olympic Distance: 1.5K Swim / 47K Bike / 10K Run
- Short Distance: 500m Swim / 23K Bike / 5K Run
Registration for Sparkasse Challenge Heilbronn powered by Audi opened today, Thursday 17 July at 11.00 CET.
