The surprise was successful: Triathlete Jonas Schomburg delivered a strong race at the Challenge Roth and only had to give up Sam Laidlow. Third place went to Jan Stratmann.
Sam Laidlow, world champion of 2023, won the Challenge Roth. After 7:29:35 hours, the Frenchman ran through the spectator trellis and could hardly believe his success: “There are no words for that. It was perhaps the toughest day of my life,” said the winner after the race in the BR24Sport interview. “I was out for six months and it was difficult to believe that I could still win races.”
Jonas Schomburg caused a tangible surprise after 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km running. The 31-year-old, Olympic participant in Tokyo in 2021 and only since this year Ironman, ended the race as a strong second after 7:32:14 hours. A week ago, he had to give up at the European Championship in Frankfurt after a broken driver. “I’m super satisfied with the race. After the hustle and bustle in Frankfurt,” said Schomburg. “I’m happy with the race.”
Third place secured Jan Stratmann, who was able to defend his podium square against the Frenchman Vincent Luis on the last kilometers.
Schomburg and Laidlow deliver tight races
Schomburg and Laidlow delivered an exciting race: After 3.8 kilometers swimming, Henri Schoemann was ahead of Jonas Schomburg and Lukasz Wojt. World champion Sam Laidlow came out of the canal as a sixth fastest with 17 seconds.
Schomburg then took the lead on the bike, Laidlow continuously fought.
But it was only on the running track that the Briton grabbed its worst competitor after almost 30 kilometers and slowly pulled away. Laidlow was no longer taken away.
