How to watch Challenge Roth

Credit: Alexander Koerner/Getty Images for Challenge Roth

Roth has been a staple on the triathlon calendar almost since the sport’s inception. A typical ‘A-race’ for some of triathlon’s finest, Roth is where the current long-distance records are held – both set in 2024 by Anne Haug in 8:02:38 and Magnus Ditlev in 7:23:24.

While Haug and Ditlev are sitting Roth out this year to focus on the Ironman Worlds, a world-class field is set to toe the start line on Sunday 6 July.

Two world Ironman champions are on the start list – the reigning champion, and fastest Ironwoman in the world, Laura Philipp, and the 2023 world champion, Sam Laidlow.

Philipp will be hoping to improve on her runner-up finish behind Haug’s world-best performance last year. Laidlow, however, has been struggling with form this season since returning back from injury.

What happened at last year’s Challenge Roth?

Records fell! Across the board. First with Magnus Ditlev, who broke his own record from 2023, then GB’s Tom Bishop set a new British long-distance record (which lasted all of six weeks before Kieran Lindars blasted across the line at Ironman Frankfurt in 7:32:14 to set a new benchmark), and then the women’s record was lowered by an astonishing 6mins from the year previous time thanks to Anne Haug.

Read all about it here.

When and where is Challenge Roth taking place?

Challenge Roth takes place on Sunday 6 July in Roth, Bavaria, Germany.

What distances will athletes race at Challenge Roth?

The race distances are the same as in a full Ironman – a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and a 42.2km run.

Who will be racing Challenge Roth 2025?

As well as Philipp and Laidlow, mentioned at the start, here are some of the other top names to keep an eye out for at this year’s Challenge Roth.

Last year’s men’s runner-up and, at the time, the fastest British long-distance man, Tom Bishop is back for another shot at the podium.

On the British women’s side, look out for Fenella Langridge who took second in 2022, third in 2021 and fourth in 2023.

Newcomers to the hallowed Roth course include two-time world short-course champion Vincent Luis, who will also be making his long-distance debut in Germany. He won his second-ever 70.3 at the end of 2024, and has since been trying his hand at T100, where he’s posted a 14th and 11th place to date.

The popular Frenchman watched his father compete in Roth 20 years ago, so he’s keen to follow in Luis senior’s footsteps.

Fellow 2016 Olympians joining Luis on the start line are South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and Australia’s Aaron Royle.

2024 Ironman Worlds fifth-place finisher Nikki Bartlett will also be in Roth for the first time.

Also look out for two-time Paralympic champion Martin Schulz; GB’s Laura Siddall, who’s finished fourth three times and second twice in Roth, in her final pro appearance at the event; and Bart Aernouts, who will also be competing in Roth for the last time as a pro.

How much can athletes win at Challenge Roth?

Challenge Roth has seriously increased its total prize purse for this year to €160,000 compared to last year’s €74,500.

Each of the champions will take home a cool €30,000, second-place finishers €20,000, third-place finishers €10,000, and €7,000 and €5,000 for fourth and fifth, respectively.

There are added bonuses for a ‘world best’ time in Roth, too.

Challenge Roth 2025 course

Credit: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images for Challenge Roth

The swim will start with a one-lap 3.8km loop along the Main-Danube Canal.

Athletes will then jump on their bikes for 180km over two laps through Roth’s local countryside, and of course the world-famous Tour-de-France-style Solar Hill.

The race finishes with a single lap marathon with some out-and-back sections following the river through Roth itself.

How to watch Challenge Roth 2025

Athletes can be tracked from the comfort of your own home via Challenge Roth’s website, which will be activated ahead of the race.

The race itself will be live streamed from 6:15 AM CEST on the Challenge Roth YouTube channel, with live race commentary from Belinda Granger and Sebastian Kienle.

When does Challenge Roth 2025 start?

The times are local, CEST, which is 1hr ahead of the UK (BST).

Sunday 6 July

Race start: 6:30am

About

Former 220 deputy editor Liz Barrett started work on the magazine in 2007 as staff writer. During her 18 years with the brand, she reported live from almost every major triathlon across the globe, including the Ironman World Championship, the 70.3 World Championship, six World Triathlon Grand Finals, Challenge Roth, the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, the London and Paris Olympics and the Rio Paralympics, to name but a few. Name a pro and chances are she’ll have interviewed them, so, unsurprisingly, she’s still our go-to pro-athlete expert. She now works as a freelance journalist, copywriter and editor.