Charles-Barclay (GBR) goes Wire-to-Wire, Dreitz (DEU) grabs first title at 2019 Challenge Roth

By Wires July 8, 2019

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Lucy Charles-Barclay finally found redemption in Challenge Roth after losing the title last year by seconds. This time, Lucy goes wire-to-wire, dominating in a full distance personal best finish time of 8:31:09, a 7:02 winning margin over Sarah Crowley of Australia. German Andreas Dreitz followed through with his prediction of a local victory, winning in 7:59:02, a 3:18 winning margin over Jesper Svensson of Sweden.

Charles-Barclay combined a women’s best 49:01 swim, a second-best 4:39:20 bike split, and a women’s best 2:59:42 marathon, to avenge a 9 second loss last year to Daniela Bleymehl. Bleymehl finished 3rd this time at 8:43:17.

Charles-Barclay’s finish was the 4th-best women’s time at Roth. Fellow Brit Chrissie Wellington holds the first two records (8:18:13 and 8:19:13) followed by Swiss Daniela Ryf (8:22:04).

Dreitz relied on his race-best 4:13:12 bike split, grabbed the lead at km 40 of the bike leg, and never looked back. While Dreitz’s 2:51:11 marathon was not the fastest of the day, it was enough to hold off the pursuers led by Svensson and Aussie Cameron Wurf.