On June 25, 2023, DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep saw Magnus Ditlev (DEN) defend his title in a new world best time of 7:24:40. Meanwhile, Daniela Ryf (SUI) beat the 12 year old world best time of Chrissie Wellington by almost 10 minutes. In addition, there were record crowds with around 300,000 spectators lining the long distance triathlon course in southern Germany.
The new world best time for Magnus Ditlev was already apparent when he came off the bike. He crossed the finish line in Roth with a lead of almost six minutes ahead of Patrick Lange (GER) and American, Ben Kanute. The 25-year-old beat his own bike record set last year and stayed well under the four-hour mark with 3:57:45 over the 180km.
“I feel tired but overjoyed,” Ditlev said at the finish. “First and foremost, I ran for the win. But the fact it turned out to be such a good time makes me all the happier.”
Sebastian Kienle, the 2018 Roth winner, finished 14th in his final long-distance race in Germany. The two-time IRONMAN world champion praised the triathlon fans in Roth, saying “I didn’t care about the time. I wanted enjoy it once again today, riding up Solarer Berg and running into the stadium. That was sensational. I have never experienced this atmosphere anywhere else in my running career.”
In the women’s race, Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf beat Chrissie Wellington’s world best of 8:18:13 from 2011 with a time of 8:08:21. Wellington from Great Britain personally handed over the medal to Ryf having said beforehand, “The world best time will fall. I am sure of that. I have held it long enough. I’m so happy to be there when it’s cracked today.”
At the finish line, now three-time Roth winner, Daniela Ryf said “It was a perfect day. It was my best performance ever.”
Around 300,000 spectators along the course also mean a new record for DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep. Especially at the swim start on the Main-Danube Canal and at the Solarer Berg hotspot, significantly more visitors cheered on the approximately 3,500 individual starters and 650 relay teams. “That was more impressive than ever before,” said Race Director Felix Walchshöfer.
