Triathlon classic - Former world champion and local hero Haug starts in Roth
Local matador Anne Haug will start at the Triathlon classic in Roth next Sunday. The former Ironman world champion signed up for the race over 3.8 kilometers swimming, 180 kilometers biking, and 42.2 kilometers running, as she confirmed to the German Press Agency on Monday and the organizers announced.
In her original race schedule for this year, Haug had not planned to race at Challenge Roth. "Due to my clumsy start to the season, we had to adapt both training and planning," Haug explained: "That's why a long distance race fits better for the training I've been able to do so far."
Haug won in Roth in 2021 and 2022, and finished second last year. "Anne and Roth, they belong together. When Anne called us and told us that she wanted to start short-term, it was a great personal joy. And I believe that it will also change the dynamics of the race," said Race Director Felix Walchshofer.
No ideal season start for Haug
At the beginning of the year, Haug had to take a forced break due to physical complaints for about two months to secure her starting spot at the Ironman World Championship in Nice in September. She raced at the Ironman in Lanzarote, known as one of the toughest races, to confirm her spot.
Haug won there in mid-May with a course record time. At the half-distance race in Nice a month later, the 41-year-old from Bayreuth raced as a professional athlete in the age group category and won again.
That she now wants to further prepare for the WM at the Challenge Roth short-term has good reasons. "Roth is a naturally magical place for me and plays a very big role," she told dpa: "Racing at home always has a special fascination."
Eight weeks - Enough time for recovery before the WM
Moreover, Roth is an "important intermediate step on the way" to the WM in Nice. The fact that only about two months lie between the title decision at the Côte d'Azur and now does not worry Haug. "That's enough time to recover and still set specific training stimuli."
Haug hails from the scenic city of Bayreuth, located in the German state of Bavaria. The Ironman triumph in Roth, a renowned triathlon event in Bavaria, has been a recurring success for Haug, with victories in 2021 and 2022 and a second-place finish in 2022. The German Press Agency reported Haug's decision to participate in this year's Roth event, scheduled for Sunday, after she had initially not planned to race at Challenge Roth. The race entails swimming 3.8 kilometers, cycling 180 kilometers, and running 42.2 kilometers, making it a formidable test of endurance and athleticism. Haug's participation in Roth serves as an excellent training opportunity before her participation in the Ironman World Championship in Nice, a prestigious event that draws elite triathletes from around the globe.
