Sam Laidlow breaks the world record at Challenge Roth
Sam Laidlow won the DATEV Challenge Roth 2026 with a time of 7:21:04 and set a new world best record in the long distance triathlon.
The Frenchman reaffirmed his victory in Roth and lowered the record of 7:21:24 by 20 seconds Kristian Blummenfelt had marked in April in HOMBRE DE HIERRO Texas.
El DATEV Challenge Roth It is one of the most prestigious long-distance races on the international calendar, with a course of 3,8 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and 42,2 km of running race.
Laidlow keeps his promise and drops to 7:21:04
Sam Laidlow had arrived in Roth with a clear idea: to significantly improve upon the 7:29:35 with which he won in 2025. He did not manage to shave ten minutes off his time, as he had hinted before the race, but he did deliver a historic performance.
The 2023 IRONMAN world champion completed the race in 7:21:04A new course record and a new world benchmark for the distance. His time beat the previous record by 20 seconds. Kristian Blummenfelt had settled in Texas a few months earlier.
Laidlow led from the start of the race and maintained his position throughout. Although he showed clear signs of fatigue in the final kilometers of the marathon, he managed to maintain a sufficient margin to cross the finish line alone.
Blummenfelt climbs to second place
Kristian Blummenfelt finished second in his Roth debut with 7:26:24The Norwegian lost time in the swimming and cycling, but once again demonstrated his ability to recover in the running leg.
The Tokyo 2021 Olympic champion recorded the fastest running split among professional men, with 2:29:33and reached second position in the final part of the marathon after overtaking Rich Bogen.
Bogen, a long-distance debutant and IRONMAN 70.3 world champion, finished third with 7:27:53The German also recorded the best cycling split of the day with 3:54:45 in the 180 kilometers.
Rico Bogen and Sam Laidlow break away from the race on the bike
The swimming leg produced the first significant split. Bogen exited the water in the lead. 46:56accompanied by Laidlow, Jonas Schomburg, and Menno Koolhaas. Blummenfelt lost nearly three minutes, while Patrick Lange and Magnus Ditlev lost just over four.
In the cycling segment, Bogen, Laidlow and Schomburg They formed the first reference group. Later, Laidlow and Bogen were left alone at the front and reached the second transition together.
The passage through the Solarer Berg was once again one of the most recognizable moments of the race. The organizers also announced a new spectator record, with 300.000 viewers following the test on the route.
Challenge Roth 2026 men's results
| Position | Triathlete | Swimming | Cycling | Career | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Laidlow | 46:57 | 3:54:58 | 2:36:53 | 7:21:04 |
| 2 | Kristian Blummenfelt | 49:54 | 4:04:10 | 2:29:33 | 7:26:24 |
| 3 | Rich Bogen | 46:56 | 3:54:45 | 2:43:48 | 7:27:53 |
| 4 | menno koolhaas | 47:00 | 4:09:46 | 2:30:33 | 7:30:00 |
| 5 | Jonas Schomburg | 46:59 | 4:01:53 | 2:41:01 | 7:32:17 |
| 6 | Magnus ditlev | 51:03 | 4:02:41 | 2:37:33 | 7:34:21 |
| 7 | Frederic Funk | 49:56 | 4:07:10 | 2:38:20 | 7:38:14 |
| 8 | Kristian Høgenhaug | 50:59 | 4:05:30 | 2:39:57 | 7:39:32 |
| 9 | Patrick Lange | 51:01 | 4:15:14 | 2:32:25 | 7:41:27 |
| 10 | Tristan Olij | 51:13 | 4:11:18 | 2:37:25 | 7:43:15 |
Alanis Siffert wins in the women's category
In the women's race, alani siffert He achieved victory with a time of 8:09:09The Swiss woman, who finished third in Roth the previous year, improved her record by more than half an hour and became the youngest winner in the history of the race.
Siffert had to manage the pressure of Lucy Charles-BarclayShe confirmed her participation in race week and was the first woman out of the water. The British swimmer lost time in the transitions, but still finished second. 8:16:41.
The women's podium was completed by Daisy Davis with 8:27:19Kat Matthews finished fourth with 8:31:35 and Caroline Pohle closed out the top 5 with 8:32:49.
Women's results of the 2026 Challenge Roth
| Position | Triathlete | Swimming | Cycling | Career | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | alani siffert | 52:03 | 4:29:19 | 2:45:00 | 8:09:09 |
| 2 | Lucy Charles-Barclay | 50:23 | 4:31:51 | 2:50:43 | 8:16:41 |
| 3 | Daisy Davis | 52:08 | 4:35:51 | 2:56:35 | 8:27:19 |
| 4 | Kat matthews | 56:31 | 4:37:27 | 2:54:42 | 8:31:35 |
| 5 | Caroline Pohle | 51:59 | 4:30:18 | 3:07:13 | 8:32:49 |
| 6 | Jeanne Collonge | 1:03:34 | 4:43:29 | 3:01:05 | 8:52:16 |
| 7 | Anna Pabinger | 1:13:19 | 4:43:59 | 2:52:20 | 8:54:35 |
| 8 | Fenella Langridge | 52:06 | 4:54:39 | 3:08:59 | 8:58:42 |
| 9 | Chloe Harnett | 56:26 | 4:50:30 | 3:13:21 | 9:03:28 |
| 10 | Jasmine Brown | 56:31 | 4:53:52 | 3:15:33 | 9:09:30 |
A historic edition for long distance
El Challenge Roth 2026 It sets a new benchmark for men's long-distance triathlon and confirms the leap in level that professional triathlon is experiencing. Laidlow, Blummenfelt, Bogen, Koolhaas, Schomburg, Ditlev, Funk, and Lange delivered a race of immense competitive intensity.
For Laidlow, the victory means more than just defending his title. The Frenchman leaves Roth with the world's best time over the distance and a performance that puts him back at the forefront of international long-distance running.
In the women's category, Siffert takes a significant leap in her sporting career and places herself among the big names on the calendar Challenge Family.
This content has been created with the support of AI tools and reviewed by the Triathlon News editorial team.
