The race was set for 5 July in Roth, Bavaria, and regularly attracts 200,000+ spectators and 6,000 long-distance athletes for what we’ve previously voted as triathlon’s greatest event.

Here’s a slightly-condensed version of the statement from Challenge, who have already confirmed that the race will return in July 2021.

Dear friends of DATEV Challenge Roth

It is with a heavy heart we have made the decision to cancel DATEV Challenge Roth on 5 July 2020 due to the current global health crisis with the SARS-CoV-2-Virus. After consulting with the authorities, it is the only responsible choice to make.

We, the Walchshöfer family, together with the entire Challenge team, are deeply saddened by this cancellation. It was the most difficult decision we have had to make since Challenge was founded 19 years ago in 2002. We struggled for a long time, considered every possible alternative, but the continued spread of this terrible virus, that has reached almost every country in the world, led us to the painful realisation that there is no alternative but to cancel this year’s race.

Since Challenge was founded, it has been – and continues to be – our philosophy to put the well-being of the athletes at the heart of everything we do, regardless of the circumstances. Now we have reached a point where we can no longer guarantee the health and physical safety of the athletes, nor the high level of competition you expect.

We have been greatly concerned by the many registered athletes from so many countries whose training conditions are subject to massive restrictions, are affected by curfews, or who, in some cases, have even contracted SARS-CoV-2-Virus. We strongly believe in our responsibility for the athletes and it is important we live up to this responsibility. Therefore, we have no other choice.

Caring for our athletes, and also for all our volunteers and everyone involved in Challenge, is always the top priority at DATEV Challenge Roth, now more than ever. We are particularly thinking of our more than 7,500 volunteers who are the heart and soul of our event and who we must not and do not want to put at risk. The same applies to the emergency and rescue workers involved in the organization. In the current difficult situation, they are working almost around the clock to help people and, yes, to save lives. We cannot put any additional burden on them.

Germany and the whole world are facing a huge challenge. The ever-increasing number of cases, and unfortunately deaths, forces us to rethink and adapt our own view of many things that are dear to us as we face this cruel reality. We have to learn that sport, especially our beloved sport of triathlon, actually isn’t the most important thing in life. At the moment it’s about things that are bigger and more important than triathlon. It’s about curbing an aggressive and deathly virus, and all of us can only hope and believe that it will be defeated soon.

If we keep in mind the enormous consequences and implications this pandemic imposes on the global population, the cancellation of a sporting event – be it as big as DATEV Challenge Roth – is almost irrelevant, nothing but a grain of sand the desert. We should keep this in mind during this time so it is easier for all of us to gain a clear perspective.

We don’t want to complain about the economic side of this event cancellation. On the other hand, we cannot hide the fact this has significant financial consequences for us. We have already made advance payments in many areas, ordered large quantities of equipment, materials and event technology and commissioned services. We will have to carry many of these costs. This will undoubtedly have a major impact on our company, the result of which is still unknown.

But we will not desert you!

Despite this difficult situation, we are reiterating our promise to our athletes: We stand by our word and will, contrary to many other organizers, reimburse entry fees minus the administration fee!

We have also planned registration for the next DATEV Challenge Roth on 4 July 2021. One thing is certain: EVERYONE who was registered for DATEV Challenge Roth 2020 will have the right to register for DATEV Challenge Roth 2021 before anyone else.

We will be back next year. And we will celebrate with you all at the largest triathlon party ever on 4 July 2021 in Roth!

Until then: take care and above all, stay healthy.

See you at the finish line in 2021 in Roth!

Yours in friendship.

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Alice, Felix and Kathrin Walchshöfer with the entire Challenge team

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“We have been working together with all the Olympic and Paralympic stakeholders in the last few days to find new dates for the Tokyo Games, and all the International Federations have unanimously approved this decision”, said World Triathlon President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

“Even though we would have preferred to move the Games to earlier dates, where the impact of the heat was a bit lower, we agreed that these dates are the best solution for all sports, athletes and IFs, and therefore support wholeheartedly the decision. And I am absolutely confident that we will have magnificent Games in Tokyo next summer, with the help and support of all of us involved in the preparations for hosting the event”, she said.

This decision was taken based on three main considerations and in line with the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 17 March 2020 and confirmed at its meeting today. These were supported by all the International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (IFs) and all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs):

1. To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.
2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.
3. The global international sports calendar.

These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organisation of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new dates, exactly one year after those originally planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), also have the added benefit that any disruption that the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum, in the interests of the athletes and the IFs. Additionally, they will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process. The same heat mitigation measures as planned for 2020 will be implemented.

the IOC President said: “I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”

Andrew Parsons, the President of the IPC, commented: “It is fantastic news that we could find new dates so quickly for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world. When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport. With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic Movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

Governor Koike Yuriko said: “In consideration of the global coronavirus outbreak, we need a certain timeframe before we fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure for the athletes and spectators. Also, the preparation for the new dates will go smoothly, as the dates match with same timeframe as the original competition dates, corresponding with ticketing, venue staffing, volunteers and transport. Therefore, I believe that celebrating the opening of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on 23 July 2021 is ideal. The athletes, volunteers, torchbearers and local municipality governments have been concerned about the situation. Since we now have concrete new dates to aim for, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will commit all its resources, and work closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the national government and other stakeholders to fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure.”

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It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged. This is a result of the fact that these Olympic Games Tokyo, in agreement with Japan, will remain the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

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The German – who won the 2008 Olympic Games and sealed his third Kona title in 2019 – will put his Hoka shoes into action for the next three seasons. The move follows a concerted testing of the France-hailing, California-based footwear brand’s range.

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Frodeno, 38, will predominantly opt for Hoka’s Carbon X racing shoes when it comes to competing, while using the Clifton and more heavily-cushioned models for training sessions.

“I want to be at the very top of the game for another three years and, with the support of Hoka, I believe I have the shoes on my feet to do just that,” said the Girona-based Frodeno. “I am heavily invested in high performance – a passion and dedication that’s clearly also shared by the Hoka brand.”

Hoka have claimed the top spot of the Kona Shoe Count, which collates the most popular trainers at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, in 2017 and 2018 (a shoe count didn’t take place in 2019 but Hoka’s Carbon X and Nike’s VaporFly both featured heavily), with top American triathlete Tim O’Donnell wearing them to second place in 2019 and Aussie Sarah Crowley to a third-placed finish. Brit athlete Joe Skipper and Frodeno’s fellow three-time Kona winner, Mirinda Carfrae, are also Hoka athletes.

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Yet Frodeno’s move from Asics – who he has raced in since 2003 and broken Iron-distance world records, the Kona course record and recorded Ironman 70.3 world titles while wearing – is a major result for the brand, and displays Frodeno’s continued quest for further triathlon performance gains some 20 years after the start of his triathlon career. “Life is short,” says Frodeno. “The thing you should fear is regretting not trying at the end of it.”

Struggling to find ways to train during the Covid-19 crisis? Here at 220 Triathlon we want to help you maximise your training time and keep yourself as fit and healthy over the next we weeks as possible. So in a new weekly video release, join coach Nick Beer for weekly training advice, as well as answers to your questions.

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Nick Beer (nick-beer.com) can be found regularly in the pages of 220 offering expert coaching and health advice. Nick’s extensive scientific knowledge on the functioning of the human body, coupled with his background as an elite athlete and experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team, have given him the perfect platform to develop a very successful career as a Reconditioning Performance Coach.

In each weekly video, going live at 8am on a Monday morning through 220’s Facebook page, Nick will cover:

Effective at-home training tips to keep you fit during the current crisis
Expert ways to keep strong and healthy and avoid injury
Your questions answered (submit them in the comments below!)

New video live on 220 Triathlon’s Facebook page every Monday, 8am

TRAIN WITH 220 TRIATHLON …with nutritionist Kate Percy

Wondering what you should be eating during the lockdown to best support your health and fitness? Or struggling to come up with recipes because you can’t find tinned tomatoes on the shelves?! Here at 220 Triathlon we want to help you come up with ways of creating meals that are new and exciting but which will also support your health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 crisis.

So, in a new weekly video release, join 220 nutritionist, Go Bites founder and author of Go Faster Food Kate Percy for weekly inspiration! Kate has written three ‘Go Faster Food’ books, is in-house chef for 220 Triathlon and has also developed an education programme to get kids eating better and moving more. Plus, her Go Bites energy balls for athletes are stocked nationally.

In each weekly video, going live at 12pm on a Wednesday though 220’s Facebook page, Kate will cover:

Advice on what to eat to stay healthy during the current crisis
Step-by-step recipe demonstrations, from exciting new flavours to quick meals
Your questions answered (submit them in the comments below!)

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New video live on 220 Triathlon’s Facebook page every Wednesday, 12pm.

Ingle challenges the morals of the decision many Premiership clubs have taken to furlough their backstage staff, rather than asking their stars to take a pay cut to weather the storm. This is a decision that has earned the clubs much criticism, with even health minister Matt Hancock stepping in with his opinion.

In his column, Ingle says that football would do well to learn from triathlon and the help and support the PTO are showing their athletes: “Three weeks ago the Professional Triathletes Organisation announced it would increase its annual end-of-year bonus scheme from $2m to $2.5m, and immediately paid it out rather than wait until December.

“Realising that triathletes lower down the food chain would need extra help, it gave the extra $500,000 in bonuses just to men and women ranked between 21 and 100 in the world. The world’s top 10 have also committed to doing online appearances and exhibitions and donating all the revenue to lower-ranked triathletes.”

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Ingle also cited Sport England, who last week announced a £192m package to help grassroots sport, “including a £20m emergency fund with grants of between £300 and £10,000 for sports clubs and community organisations, those vital but unappreciated capillaries in our society. That comes down to smart leadership. And it matters more than ever.”