Roth's legendary track offers record potential. In 2016, Jan Frodeno set a new long-distance record of 7:35:39 on the asphalt. The route has been slightly modified over the years, but has lost none of its breath-taking energy. We introduce you to swimming, cycling and running courses.
swim course
Photo: Getty Images / Aleander Koerner
3.8 kilometers of swimming in the Main-Danube Canal - one of the "most rewarding" swims to be found in long-distance races. After the starting signal, it's almost 1.5 km straight ahead to the southern turning point, back on the other side of the canal, past the start to the northern turning point in front of the Eckersmühlen lock and then the last few meters back to the exit. Orientation is easy, as soon as all athletes are on the move, you swim "in the suction".
Graphics: Challenge Family
Transition zone 1
Graphics: Challenge Family
bike course
Photo: Getty Images / Aleander Koerner
The cycle route leads through the hilly, varied landscape of the southern district of Roth. There is a folk festival atmosphere in the communities, the whole district celebrates the participants at the edge of the route. There are two laps with a total of about 1200 meters in altitude. The absolute hotspot is the Solarar Berg with goosebumps guaranteed when you climb the slight incline in the spectator channel. You should rather be careful of the Calvary in Greding (1st lap after approx. 35 km / 2nd lap after approx. 120 km), which you can feel much more in your legs with its 10% incline. At the end of the second round, it goes from Eckersmühlen to Roth to the second transition zone.
Graphics: Challenge Family
Transition zone 2
Graphics: Challenge Family
running track
Photo: Getty Images / Jan Hetfleisch
This first leads out of Roth back to the Main-Danube Canal, which is reached after almost 5 kilometers. After the initial euphoria, mental strength is now required, because for the next 20 kilometers the athletes run directly along the canal bank path - always straight ahead and always exposed to the hot afternoon sun. Through the two turning points, the athletes meet on the way there and back. This brutal section is over at kilometer 25, the route leads back to Roth and now finally through the triathlon Mecca. The entire town whips up the athletes for the last 10 kilometers - and they get really tough again, because the ascent to Büchenbach awaits here. The athletes now have 35 kilometers in their legs, which really hurts. When the turning point in Büchenbach is reached, however, the triumphal run begins - the last 5 kilometers back to Roth and finally to the finish.
Graphics: Challenge Family
Photo: Getty Images / Jan Hetfleisch
