On July 5, 2026, triathlon history was written in Roth once again. Sam Laidlow won the DATEV Challenge Roth for the second year in a row – and set a new world best time on the long distance in the process. Caroline Pohle finished 5th in her first-ever full-distance race. For sailfish, official swim partner of Challenge Roth, it was a race day with two reasons to celebrate.
Sam Laidlow: 7:21:04 hours – and a scare in the final kilometers
Defending champion Sam Laidlow once again lived up to his reputation as one of the strongest all-rounders in the sport. He beat previous world record holder Kristian Blummenfelt and clearly undercut the mark Blummenfelt had only set in April, finishing in 7:21:04 hours. Rico Bogen completed the podium in 3rd place on his own full-distance debut.
Things got tense in the closing stages of the run: around seven kilometers from the finish, Laidlow struggled visibly with the toll of the pace he had set. That he pushed through and still brought home the world best time underlines why he has been one of the sport's defining athletes since 2022.
Laidlow has been a sailfish athlete since his Kona breakthrough in 2022 and swam in the sailfish Rebel Pro 3 at Roth.
Caroline Pohle: first long-distance race, 5th place – and plenty of grit
For Caroline Pohle, Roth marked her long-distance debut. The Leipzig-based athlete, a sailfish athlete and two-time Ironman 70.3 European Champion, raced aggressively from the start and stayed in the chase group behind winner Alanis Siffert for most of the day. On the bike, she matched Lucy Charles-Barclay's pace for long stretches and reached the second transition within striking distance of the favorites.
On the run, Pohle hit a rough patch around seven kilometers from the finish. Still crossing the line in 8:32:49 hours for 5th place is a strong result for a long-distance debut and a preview of what she can bring to this distance going forward.
sailfish in Roth: more than just gear
Since late 2025, sailfish has been the official swim partner of DATEV Challenge Roth. The partnership shows up throughout the year, not just on race day – for example through the sailfish Swim Nights, where athletes prepare for open-water swimming months before the race.
If you're working toward a long-distance race or your first open-water swim, you'll find the right gear in the wetsuit collection and among the swim goggles from sailfish.
Challenge Roth 2026: the key facts
- Men's winner: Sam Laidlow, 7:21:04 hours (new world best time)
- Men's 2nd place: Kristian Blummenfelt
- Men's 3rd place: Rico Bogen (long-distance debut)
- Women's winner: Alanis Siffert, 8:09:09 hours
- Women's 5th place: Caroline Pohle, 8:32:49 hours (long-distance debut)
Frequently asked questions about Challenge Roth 2026
Who won Challenge Roth 2026?
Sam Laidlow won the men's race in a new world best time of 7:21:04 hours. Alanis Siffert won the women's race in 8:09:09 hours.
What place did Caroline Pohle finish in her long-distance debut?
Caroline Pohle finished 5th in her first-ever full-distance race, with a time of 8:32:49 hours.
What role does sailfish play at Challenge Roth?
sailfish is the official swim partner of DATEV Challenge Roth and supports athletes throughout the season, including through the sailfish Swim Nights.
A race day with a world record and a strong debut – exactly the kind of moments Roth delivers year after year. Enjoy your swim.
