Pro Bernd Hagen of Germany makes his way up the iconic Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image Photo: Paul Phillips / Competitive Image, Inc.
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With almost 4,000 bikes in T1, athletes prepare for the start of a long day. Perfect weather helps calm the nerves as they get ready to move to the swim start. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Age-group athletes from the River City Triathlon Club in the U.S. are fired up and ready to go. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The most nerve-wracking part of every race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Clearly one of the most spectacular starts in all of triathlon, the sun rises behind the hot air balloons. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Starting 15 minutes behind the pros, the first wave of age-group athletes head out for their swim in the canal. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Pro Bernd Hagen of Germany makes his way up the iconic Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Pro Bernd Hagen of Germany makes his way up the iconic Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Pro Bernd Hagen of Germany makes his way up the iconic Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Pro Bernd Hagen of Germany makes his way up the iconic Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Team Agar, Jeff and Johnny, are on their first lap, being interviewed while they climb the hill into Greding. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Athletes from 76 countries were racing in Roth in 2018. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The bike course winds through villages and rolling hills. An estimated 250,000 spectators come out to watch the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
All aid stations were well staffed, stocked and labeled, with volunteers wearing bibs describing what they had to offer. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The climb before the climb and the crowd before the crowd.
Athletes climb the hill as they approach the village of Hilpoltstein, then descend with a long sweeping right coming onto the famed Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Most athletes smile as they are greeted by the cheering crowds at the base of Solaraberg Hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Facing a wall of 30,000+ spectators, the athletes press on. The story of Solaraberg is that no one has ever fallen. If an athlete slows to a stop, the crowd just pushes them along up the hill. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Focused on where she is going, Ginni Chan from Singapore tries to ignore the crowd and noise makers. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Late night finishers are just as excited as the winners as they enter a packed stadium. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Family members can meet their athletes at the entrance to the stadium and join in on the final few meters of the race. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The finish line stadium, constructed solely for Challenge Roth, is packed with spectators and celebrates every finisher. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
For 225km Johnny Agar was assisted by his father, Jeff, but got to walk the final kilometer on his own and of course, the crowd went wild! Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
The closing fireworks are always a crowd favorite! Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
There’s a reason Challenge Roth tops so many triathletes’ bucket lists! Thousands of triathletes competed on Sunday, July 1. Enjoy these photos of the epic race from photographer Paul Phillips of Competitive Image, inc. Registration for the 2019 race (set for July 7) opens next Monday, July 9 at 10 a.m. local time. You’ll have to be fast though—all spots usually disappear within an hour.
