Jan Frodeno To Race Challenge Roth
The 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2015 70.3 and Ironman world champion will go after the iron-distance world record.
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2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2015 70.3 and Ironman world champion Jan Frodeno will compete in this year’s running of Challenge Roth, race organizers revealed today. The event, set for July 17, 2016, is known for world record performances and all eyes will be watching to see if the German can beat fellow countryman Andreas Raelert’s 2011 iron-distance world record of 7:41:33.
“The event in Roth is a European triathlon legend, racing at Challenge Roth is a highlight in every athlete’s career,” Frodeno said in the press release. “I’m so excited that I can finally take my place on the Roth start line… All athletes who compete at Roth are blown away by the unique atmosphere in the triathlon-mad region of Roth and the perfect race organization. I want to experience that for myself and I am already hugely looking forward to enjoying the famous ‘Challenge spirit.’”
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Frodeno was not shy about the fact he’ll be going after that world record time when he gets on the start line: “It’s well known that the course in Roth is very fast. I’ll do everything to ensure my dream of the world record becomes a reality.”
Frodeno will compete in what will be the 15th anniversary for the event.
“We had already told our fans that our 15th anniversary would be full of surprises,” said race organizer Felix Walchshöfer. “The greatest of these is that Frodo starts with us. I am absolutely thrilled. For us it is a huge joy and also an honor to have the world’s best triathletes race with us. The eyes of the triathlon world will be on Challenge Roth in 2016 and perhaps we will see triathlon history written once again.”
Race organizers say that a more complete professional start list will be revealed in mid-April.