Roth: A Trip. Some History. And The 1988 Race.
Here’s another video I made. Below. About a short bike trip to Roth. And some history about the event. I need to make a correction to something in the video. I said that Glenn Cook first used Scott DH bars in Roth on 20th June 1987. In fact, he’d used them at Avignon on 7th June and maybe even four weeks earlier at Les Mureaux, near Paris, on 8th May.
I did Roth in 2008. It rained the whole day. But I’d done enough panic training to enjoy the experience. I’ll be there again this year for race weekend. Doing a pool-sprint on Friday. Coaching the boys on Saturday. And cheering @oldtriathlonstuff during the Big Dance on Sunday.
The event was started in 1984 by Detlef Kuhnel. The distances were 700m / 40km / 10km. In October 1982 Kuhnel and Manuel Debus were the first Germans to take part in the Hawaii Ironman. In 1985 Roth was the Bavarian Championships. And in 1986 Roth hosted the German Middle Distance Championships. Scott Tinley even took part!
1988 was the first year as Ironman Europe. Valerie Silk of Ironman had attended the European Middle Distance Championships in Roth in July 1987. And had been impressed with the organisation. The races were won by Sarah Coope and Glenn Cook. Results here and a race report here.
The first branded Ironman events outside of Kona were Los Angeles (1983), New Zealand (1985), Japan (1985) and Canada (1986). Ironman Europe moved to Frankfurt in 2002. And the Roth race became Challenge Roth.
The winners in 1988 were Rita Keiteman and Axel Koenders. Koenders recorded the fastest ironman time ever up to that point with 8:13:11.
Enjoy the images from Tri-Athlete (FR) below. But the article is also really good. About when taking part in a triathlon abroad was definitely an adventure into the unknown. Paper entry forms, money orders and road atlases. I’ll do a full-translation in the near-future.
The shorter English version from Tri-Athlete (UK) is underneath. I’ve also got some back-story about Koenders’ bike. With all the fairings. I’ll find what I’m looking for and post it below ASAP.
Images:
Tri-Athlete (FR) Septembre 1988
Tri-Athlete (UK) Oct-Nov 1988
In 1989 the race was held over the middle distance. After a deal was done between Ironman and the ETU. So as not to draw athletes away from the European Long Distance Championships being held in Rodekro, Denmark.
Here’s a report from Roth in 1989. And one from Rodekro.
