Challenge Roth is one of the most iconic triathlon races in the world, attracting thousands of athletes and spectators to Germany each year. Among this year’s field were five Western Australian athletes, including Fremantle Triathlon Club members Janne and Bryant, alongside Guy Crawford and WA triathlon legend Kate Bevilaqua.
For Janne and Bryant, Roth was the rare event that could convince them to take on the full-distance challenge. Janne, originally from Germany, had long seen Roth as the race she would choose if she ever stepped up to the distance, while Bryant said the event’s reputation made it impossible to ignore.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone who’s raced Roth say anything other than how much they love it and how special it is,” Janne said. “I always said that if I ever did a full-distance triathlon, it would be Roth.”
The final push came when close friends Fiona, Michelle and Victor decided to race Roth while celebrating milestone birthdays, challenging Janne and Bryant to join them. Three years out, the commitment felt easy, until race day suddenly became real.
“It was easy to commit with three years to go until race day,” Janne laughed. “Things naturally became a lot more real in the final few weeks before the race!”
The Home of Triathlon
Challenge Roth is often described as “the home of triathlon”, and after experiencing its 300,000-plus spectators, 7,500 volunteers and week-long festival atmosphere, Janne and Bryant understood why. From banners across town to packed crowds, both were struck by how warmly the local community embraces the event.
“Everyone seemed excited, the volunteers were super professional, and the local community felt extremely welcoming,” Janne said. Bryant agreed, saying the scale was unlike anything he had raced before, yet the focus on athletes still felt personal.
An Atmosphere Like No Other
Even compared with major events such as the Hamburg Sprint Triathlon and Ironman World Championships, Roth stood apart for its size, organisation and energy.
For Janne, the marathon crowds made the race unforgettable. With athletes’ names printed on their bibs, spectators called competitors by name almost constantly. Bryant’s favourite memories came on the bike climbs, where children lined the roadside with hands out for high-fives.
“There is no lonely moment during the race,” Janne said. Bryant added that giving high-fives to as many kids as he could while climbing was simply “good fun”.
Conquering Solar Hill
No discussion about Roth is complete without mentioning Solar Hill, the famous climb where spectators create a narrow tunnel of noise and energy.
Janne described riding it as “unreal”, while Bryant summed it up in one word: “exhilarating”. Both said the photos had drawn them to Roth, but nothing compared to arriving at the climb, seeing the road narrow to space for one rider, and feeling the crowd close in like a Tour de France ascent.
“There is just no way to ride up the single-file path surrounded by people without the biggest, goofiest smile on your face,” Bryant said.
A Bucket List Race Worth the Journey
For anyone considering making the trip, Janne and Bryant’s advice is simple: do it.
“You won’t regret it,” Janne said. Bryant agreed, adding that the only risk is that Roth might ruin every other full-distance race that follows.
After years of hearing about Roth, dreaming of the Solar Hill crowds and wondering whether the event could live up to its reputation, Janne and Bryant found their answer. Challenge Roth is more than another race on the calendar, it is an experience that reminds athletes why they fell in love with triathlon in the first place.
