A dream come true – Andi takes the victory at Challenge Roth

After 7:58:54 hours Andi crosses the finish line of Roth and fulfils himself one of his biggest wishes by taking the victory at his Franconian home race.

Sunday at 6:30 the gun went off for the race at Challenge Roth. A race, which was pretend to become an exciting one, due to the strong pro men field.

Already early in the swim, Swedish Jasper Svensson took the lead and came first out of the water after 48:27 minutes. 2:30 minutes behind it was Currie, Potts and David McNamee who started the bike ride. Andi Dreitz, followed by Böcherer, was 5th out of Transition Zone. He was only 3:30 minutes behind the leader Svensson – a perfect position to start his favorite discipline. The favorites of the race Bart Aernouts and Cameron Wurf, who are known as weaker swimmers, had a bigger gap to the front, due to the fact that it was a non-wetsuit swim.

Andi felt really comfortable on the bike and directly started to chase the leaders. After 60k Andi overtook the lead, followed by Böcherer, Potts and Svensson. In the second loop, Svensson couldn’t follow the fast trio any more, and lost some ground. Neither the strong performing Potts could keep up. He lost the connection to Andi Dreitz and Böcherer a few kilometers before the bike finish.

It was Dreitz, shoulder to shoulder with Böcherer coming out first of the transition zone, starting the run together. Everybody was prepared for a run battle, but after the 8k mark, Andi Dreitz had already an advantage of 1:30 minutes on Böcherer. Neither the other Athletes had anything to set against Andi’s strong Marathon. He ran a constant pace, without showing any weakness.

By crossing the finish line, he was overwhelmed by the emotions, and could finally show them.

Inwardly, Andi had a much tougher day. “Most of the time I was controlling the race, but I also had so many ups and downs. I wanted this victory so much, and when I realized that it is really possible I pushed myself so much. I can’t remember another race where I was so tired after the finish. I could barely stand straight anymore. But it was worth it, and I am delighted with this amazing day”.

1. Andreas Dreitz 7:59:02

2. Jasper Svensson 8:02:20

3. Cameron Wurf 8:04:08

4. Bart Aernouts 8:04:48

5. David McNamee 8:05:50

At the women’s race, it was Lucy Charles-Barclay who dominated Crowley and Daniela Bleymehl.

Photocredits: @TeamChallenge GmbH