Frederic Funk returns to Roth after strong debut
Last year's fifth-place finisher aims for victory in 2026
When Frederic Funk completed his first long-distance race at last year's DATEV Challenge Roth, he commented with a wink that he was now “finally a real triathlete.”
With fifth place on his debut, the Erdinger Active Team athlete made a strong statement and made it clear that his potential in long distance is far from exhausted. On July 5, 2026, Funk will return to the Home of Triathlon as a “real triathlete” with the experience of two long distances under his belt.
“There's much more to come”
“Roth was my first long distance last year and I finished fifth, but I knew there was much more to come. This year, I'm coming back with more experience and the clear goal of fighting for victory.”
For Funk, starting in Roth feels almost like a home race. The 28-year-old lived in Nuremberg for a long time, trained in the region, and still has close ties to the area. The support along the course is likely to be just as great again.
"Challenge Roth was an unforgettable experience for me. The atmosphere, the course, the people. I'm extremely excited to be back on the start line!"
In addition to his success in finishing fifth at DATEV Challenge Roth 2025, he also won the Allgäu Triathlon last year and came third at Ironman Switzerland. His greatest successes to date have been in the middle distance, finishing second at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2023 and with multiple Challenge Family victories in his career.