1,000 happy faces: The triathlon community kicks off the Roth summer together
The DATEV Challenge Roth Season Kick-Off 2026 at Rothsee once again demonstrated what makes the triathlon community so special: training, testing, and sharing experiences together, and simply having a good time. Around 1,000 athletes gathered at Rothsee over the weekend to kick off the final phase of preparation for the DATEV Challenge Roth on July 5 and to truly get the season underway.
A genuine race atmosphere was already in the air around Lake Roth on Saturday. During the HOKA Community Run, the sailfish Community Swim, and the big Triathlon Spring Expo, participants ran together around Lake Roth and tested wetsuits for the summer. Over 1,000 athletes were out and about in their yellow HOKA shirts. 300 daring souls even jumped into the 15.8-degree-Celsius waters of Lake Roth for one or more laps. Exciting discussions during the live talk with Triathlon Magazine and special guests like long-distance debutante Caro Pohle added to the anticipation for the summer.
Sunday was also all about the community. During the traditional bike ride, participants rode together along the original bike course of the DATEV Challenge Roth. Divided into nearly 40 groups, the athletes rode along the race’s legendary roads. 400 athletes took advantage of this opportunity. The number had been set in advance for safety reasons.
In addition to the sporting activities, many visitors took the opportunity to test new equipment, chat with partners and exhibitors, and simply soak up the special atmosphere that has defined Roth for decades.
A big thank you goes out to all our partners, volunteers, Matthias Fritsch, the water rescue team, and the motorcycle crew, as well as the entire community, who made this weekend such a special experience.
The countdown is on: See you on July 5, 2026, at the DATEV Challenge Roth.