The world’s largest iron distance triathlon with 4,500 athletes, Quelle Challenge Roth, will feature two of New Zealand’s top names on the start line this Sunday July 12.
Gina Ferguson, two-time winner of Roth sister event, Challenge Wanaka, broke the New Zealand women’s iron distance record at Challenge Roth last year with a time of 8.57:18 earning her third place on a day when four women went sub nine hours. This year she has current world champion Chrissie Wellington (GBR) to contend with, together with multiple winner Belinda Granger (AUS) and last year’s second place Erika Csomor (HUN).
In the men’s field, Richard Ussher will compete in his third iron distance event off the back of his recent win in Sweden at the Åre Extreme Challenge with wife Elena. He has a tough field to contend with featuring two-time world champion, Normann Stadler (GER), multiple Ironman winner Patrick Vernay (FRA) and Australian national champion, Pete Jacobs, as well as Challenge Wanaka winners Chris McDonald (AUS) and Luke Dragstra (CAN).
There are 11 other New Zealanders racing in the individual event including four age groupers who won their slots in January’s Challenge Wanaka and up-and-coming professional athlete, Merryn Johnston who recently got third at Sparkasse Challenge Kraichgau in addition to her second place at Challenge Wanaka.
Live coverage of Quelle Challenge Roth starts at 11.00am (CET) at www.challenge-roth.com with a live ticker operating from race start at 6.30am (CET). The two-channel coverage will also include a camera at the finish line allowing on-line viewers to watch the finishers as if they were in the stadium.
