RUNNING GERMANY: Roth – DATEV Challenge Roth – Goosebumps on Saturday already „During Challenge-time, Roth outgrows itself“ – Roth and radio station „Bayern 3“ – A match made in heaven

„When you're here only Roth counts and you go all out.“, says Timo Bracht in an interview at HIP-Lounge. His words are a source of inspiration for the more than 3000 athletes, who are checking in their bikes prior to Sunday's race. For the top-athlete there is no question: „This Sunday you are either participating or cheering at the Solarer Hill.“

His words are a delight for Markus Mahl, mayor of the city of Hilpoltstein. Once a year this mayor turn sports announcer when he cheers on the athletes making the climb at the steep hill in Hilpotstein.

„Roth rocks!“ And not only on the day of the DATEV Challenge Roth race, but already on the Friday before the long distance event.

The usually quiet market place turns into a bubbling cualdron, giving a little foretaste of what is to come on race day. Even before Bayern 3 sports announcer Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht brought the top-athletes out on stage, „Strandvilla featuring p00kah & Picard“ were already getting the party started.

Last year's second placed woman, Sonja Tajsich, raves about Roth, „it is incredible“ and Nicole Leder adds that „the only possible way of finishing in Roth is with a smile on the face“. Her husband Lothar enjoyed the feeling of finishing first five times in Roth. On Sunday he will face off against the traithlon greats of his time: Andreas Niedrig and Juergen Zaeck.

 

What started with a couple of articles and turned into a media-partnership has by now become a real friendship. The radio station „Bayern 3 and DATEV Challenge Roth are simply a match made in heaven.“ says Peter Hufe. Hufe, a member of the board of directors of Bayern 3, lives in nearby Hilpoltstein and is happy about the partnership, that, as announcer Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht points out, has drawn an additional 100.000 people to the courses in the last five years. And for the first time it was possible to get a 30 minute time slot on ARD, the German TV-Channel.

The BR will not only be in charge of anchoring the race and reporting about it in all of Bavaria, it will also have its own team of starters. For the first time, the legendary Bayern 3 -relay-team is made up exculsively of announcers. Their runner will be Juergen Toerkott. He ran his first marathon in last year's race. By know he reaches a best time of 3:33 hours. This time he wants to be even faster than 3,5 hours. On the bike there will be Simone Faust. She only started practising on the bike in January, but has already caught the „Roth-Virus“, because, when she lost her water bottle during a training run in the district of Roth, a car stopped, a little girl got out and handed her back her bottle.

„That's typical of the district of Roth“ says Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht. For him, this is proof, that the whole district supports the triathlon. This fact also makes managing director Felix Walchshoefer extremely proud. „The district goes all out! I love calling it my home.“

The third member of the announcer's relay team is Christine Rose. For her it is her second time in Roth, but on friday she was still at the studio, sending out greetings to her team and the spectators via airwaves.

This year, for the first time Bayern 3 will broadcast the whole race live. There is a stream at www.bayern3.de and announcer Andi Poll will present the race for 17 straight hours.

Before reaching the peaking point of the party, Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht brings Chris „Macca“ McCormack out to the stage. Macca had already caused cheers with his announcement to be a starter again in next year's race. „Everything is so well here“, he said, directed especially at the people linning the courses.

All his major victories came in Roth, so for him there is no question: „This town absolutely rocks!“

 

 

And the 3000 people on the market square, together with the Bayern 3 band wasted no time proving this statement right. Almost until modnight there was singing, dancing and lighters in the air. Even the little kids persevered until the end and even joined the band on stage.

 

Pictures: TEAMCHALLENGE, Christoph Raithel

 

„During Challenge-time, Roth outgrows itself“

 

This year there will be a new race under the banner of Challenge Family: Challenge Penticton. A numerous delegation of the organisers of the long-standing race came from Canada to Roth to experience the incredible amtosphere. „When it's Challenge time, the city of Roth shows itself from its best side“, says its mayor. „Every single person outgrowns itself.“

There a many connections between Penticton and Roth, as Felix Walchshoefer explains to the visitors from Penticton and representatives of the city of Roth. There is already a great cooperation on the political level, thanks to both the mayors. Hans Raithel, third mayor of Roth, is also responsible for the swim course of Sunday's race, Elisabeth Bieber was a participant in this morning's „Challenge Women“ and Ralph Edelhaeusser is „absolutely crazy“ anyway.

When Penticton was faced with the decision of joining the Challenge Family last year, the people there wished to be more included in the race. What they saw in Roth convinced the people in charge: „Roth is like the Disneyland of triathlon.“ says Barb Hayes, general manager of Challenge Penticton.

Annette Antoniak, city manager of Penticton, furthers the relationship between the two cities even more by signing the golden book of the city of Roth.

 

The delegation from Challenge Penticton signing the golden book of the city of Roth, sitting in front: Annette Antoniak, city manager of Penticton, and Ralph Edelhäußer, mayor of Roth.

Picture: TEAMCHALLENGE, Christoph Raithel

 

Source: DATEV Challenge Roth

 

DATEV Challenge Roth