In contrast to the soaring temperatures of Ironman Frankfurt last weekend, it was a rather cooler affair in Roth today for one of the world\u2019s greatest triathlons, with clouds and rain. The rain eased as the day progressed and it might not have been perfect weather for sun worshippers but, given the recent hot weather in Germany, this was very welcome, and provided almost perfect racing conditions for the triathletes.<\/p>\n
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Challenge Roth is set in and around the beautiful and picturesque Bavarian town of Roth. It all starts at daybreak with the 3.8km swim in the Main-Donau Kanal, where spectators flank the canal banks and bridge over the swim start. The water temperature was 24.4\u00b0C that meant, for the pros, it was a non-wetsuit swim.<\/p>\n
The international field for the women\u2019s race included many heavyweights from the world of triathlon. As well as Lucy Charles-Barclay from Great Britain they included last year\u2019s winner Daniela Bleymehl from Germany, and Australian Sarah Crowley, who came third at the 2017 Ironman World Championships.<\/p>\n
As expected Charles-Barclay was the first athlete out of the swim, in a time of 50:40, 3:49mins ahead of the next swimmer Rachel McBride from Canada.<\/p>\n
By the time she\u2019d covered 55km of the 180km bike leg, Charles\u2013Barclay had extended this lead to 7:15mins over the chase group of five, which included Cowley. Last year\u2019s winner Bleymehl was at this point 40secs behind this group yet, by the Solarer Berg climb \u2013 triathlon\u2019s noisiest, most raucous and greatest spectacle with tens of thousands supporters cheering \u2013 she\u2019d not only joined this group but also overtaken them to go into second.<\/p>\n
Bleymehl clearly meant business and wanted to defend her title, but would she pay for this effort later? Or would there be a repeat duel of last year? At just before the halfway point of the bike leg Charles-Barclay was still in front, with a healthy lead of 7:18 mins over Bleymehl, while Crowley was in third.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Into T2 the order stayed the same: Charles-Barclay, followed by Bleymehl, but the German\u2019s second place was short-lived as 7km into the run Crowley passed her to go into 2nd position.<\/p>\n
Crowley was now running around 8secs faster per km than Charles Barclay \u2013 could the Brit hold on? At 14.5km Charles-Barclay\u2019s lead was down to 4:02mins, but Crowley couldn\u2019t maintain this speed and, by 28km, Charles-Barclay\u2019s lead was back to around 5mins. With 14km to go victory started to look assured for the Brit.<\/p>\n
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Charles-Barclay crossed the line in a time of 8:31:09 (a new Iron PB for her and the fourth fastest time ever for a British female triathlete at Roth), with Crowley crossing the finish line 6:30mins later in second.\u00a0Daniela Bleymehl finished third.<\/p>\n
\nWe chat to a very happy @LucyAnneCharles about winning @ChallengeRoth1, getting a PB -and whether her thoughts have started to turn to Kona\u2026. pic.twitter.com\/VYlSx3SLU7<\/p>\n
\u2014 220Triathlon (@220Triathlon) July 7, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nDATEV Challenge Roth 2019 top three women \u2013 what a race! Congratulations @LucyAnneCharles @Sarah_Crowley1 and Daniela Bleymehl! #challengeroth #triathlon pic.twitter.com\/K39v70LHx5<\/p>\n
\u2014 Challenge Roth (@ChallengeRoth1) July 7, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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