Anne Haug and Magnus Ditlev break world long-distance triathlon records

The world’s fastest long-distance triathlon times have been lowered once again in Roth, just one year after new benchmarks were set.

Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev clocked a 7:23:24 at Challenge Roth beating the record he set last year of 7:24:40. It was the Great Dane’s third Roth title in a row.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Germany’s Anne Haug smashed Daniela Ryf‘s world-best time, set just last year in Roth, by almost six minutes with a time of 8:02:38. The 41-year-old 2019 Kona champion only signed up to race last Monday, and dominated the field from the start.

The men’s Challenge Roth 2024 race

Lukasz Woijt (GER) was first out of the swim and took an early lead, but after 16.6km, Ditlev took hold of the race, holding it to the line.

“Everything went really well for me today,” said Ditlev at the finish. “Of course I know the course a bit by now. That was certainly an advantage. But the spectators were once again phenomenal and spurred me on to this great performance.”

Ditlev eventually finished with a gap of over 14 minutes ahead of GB’s Tom Bishop, who with a time of 7:37:54 set a new British long-distance record in what was only his second-ever full-distance race. His time also beats Ali Brownlee’s fastest British iron-distance time of 7:38:48 set at Ironman Kalmar in 2022.

The USA’s Rudy von Berg (7:38:30) came in third.
 
Two-time Ironman world champion Patrick Lange had a day to forget, however, crying out in pain in T1 and grabbing his ribs.

“I got hit in the rib cage right at the start of the swim,” he said post-race, having dropped out on the bike course. “I’m fine under the circumstances. The rib isn’t broken, it’s ‘just’ badly bruised. Luck wasn’t on my side today. But I’ll be back!”

The women’s Challenge Roth 2024 race

Just a week and a half ago, Haug had toyed with the idea of re-registering for a start in Roth. Due to a viral infection, she had to cancel her races at the start of the season and was unable to train for two months.

“It’s crazy, and then everything just fell into place today,” said the now three-time Roth winner, who took over the lead from GB’s Abi Bedwell shortly after T1… and never looked back. 

“I only found out at the end that it could be enough for the world best time. That was a good thing. Otherwise the head cinema starts!

“[Breaking the record is] something that has made my career perfect. It’s good that it’s worked out now. Otherwise, at the age of 41, the time would have been a bit tight.”

Fellow German elite Laura Philipp took second place (8:14:13), and moved up a podium spot from last year’s third, while Dutch pro Els Visser rounded out the podium with a time of 8:24:47.

Challenge Roth 2024 race highlights video