Triathlon - Drama surrounding triathlon star Lange: Early exit in Roth
Patrick Lange had to drop out of Challenge Roth early due to an injury. After barely 20 kilometers on Sunday on his bike, the German professional triathlete veered off the course and rolled behind the sweep wagon. Lange took off his helmet, lay down on the ground and cried in pain.
"He said, 'I can't breathe'", race director Felix Walchshöfer had previously reported to Bayerischer Rundfunk. "He probably got hit in the swim." Lange himself suspected that he had broken a rib.
Lange in pain
Already in the first transition zone, the 37-year-old two-time Ironman World Champion from Hesse had major issues. He came out of the water with a larger than expected gap and held his hands on his lower ribcage.
Once again, Lange sat down, the pain was obvious after the 3.8 kilometers of swimming in the Main-Donau- Canal. Lange got back on his bike, but the pain was too great, he had trouble holding the aero position, kept grabbing at his ribs and shook his head, before he had to withdraw early on the 180 kilometer long bike course.
His great running strength during the closing marathon could not be utilized, he had set a time of under 2:30 hours for the 42.2 kilometers to the finish.
In 2019, Lange had to withdraw from the bike course after his two title triumphs in Hawaii due to health issues. The impact of this injury retirement in Roth on his preparation and the WM-Race in Hawaii in October remains to be seen.
Despite the setback at Challenge Roth in Germany, Patrick Lange aims to bounce back. He has his sights set on participating in another Challenge Triathlon, perhaps in the scenic Bavarian town of Roth once more.
The 2023 Challenge Roth, known for its grueling course, is a potential challenge he might consider, given his passion for the event and his competitive spirit.
The German triathlon community eagerly waits to see if Patrick Lange, the two-time Ironman World Champion, can overcome this latest injury and return to his formidable position in the world of triathlon on the famous Sunday of Challenge Roth in Bavaria.
Despite voicing his regret for missing the BR broadcast during his withdrawal, Lange expressed his hope to grace the finish line of Challenge Roth again, stronger than ever.
