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A Sure-Thing, and Surprise at Challenge Roth
Challenge Roth recap, sodium salvation, and a serious swim rebuild
Matthew Sharpe
July 08, 2025
Good morning everyone,
I’ve been stacking up some big training lately, and one of the side effects is a serious craving for pickles. Weird, I know. But it’s also been hot here at home, so maybe that has something to do with it?
Do you ever have weird training-induced food cravings? Hit reply and let me know!
In today’s edition:
🏆 A sure-thing, and surprise at Challenge Roth
🧂 Why sodium is everything for our hydration
🏊♂️ And what can you learn from a pro triathlete’s swimming rebuild?
Thanks for being here.
-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor
Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.
ONE BIG THING
A Sure-Thing, and Surprise Highlight Stellar Challenge Roth
What is it: This past weekend saw another wildly succesful edition of Challenge Roth, and between a perfectly executed age group event, a dramatic pro race, and the never ending crowds, the sport enjoyed one of the most important events of the year.
Men’s race
The men’s race saw the season debut of IRONMAN Champion, Sam Laidlow (FRA), who had suffered through months of frustrating illness and injury.
But he had plenty of competition as Jonas Schomburg (GER), Daniel Bakkegard (DEN), Jan Stratmann (GER), and Frederic Funk (GER) joined him on the start line.
And Roth would also see the long course debut of French Olympic medalist and former World Champion, Vincent Luis.
🏊♂️ Swim: No surprise, the swim pace was hot. Olympian Henri Schoeman (RSA) led the men out of the water with Schomburg, Luis, and Laidlow not far behind.
Funk would exit 3 minutes back, while American Matt Hanson finished the swim more than six minutes off the pace.
🚴♂️ Bike: After Schomburg’s incredible solo attack at IRONMAN Frankfurt that was foiled by faulty aerobars, the German had no desire to deviate from the playbook.
After 30km - 1/6th of the bike - he already had 2 minutes on the field.
The only one to try and bring Schomburg back? Sam Laidlow. By the time the Frenchman had reached T2, he’d clawed back the deficit to 50 seconds.
The chase group, featuring Luis, Stratmann, and Funk were minutes behind in T2, seemingly battling for third.
🏃♂️ Run: Schomburg, never one to settle, smashed the initial stage of the run and grew his lead over Laidlow to 3 minutes. But it soon looked to be borrowed time…
Slowly, Laidlow began to reel in the long time race day leader.
Halfway through, the gap was at 2’. 10km later, Laidlow would pass the German and run clear for another victory on of the sport’s biggest stages.
Schomburg, would cruise in for second, while Stratmann would overtake Luis late in the run to finish in third.
Women’s Race
All eyes were on IRONMAN World Champion, Laura Philipp (GER) as she had the opportunity to take another career defining victory.
And after a textbook performance, she showed exactly why she is one of the few favored for the win later this year in Kona.
🏊♀️ Swim: With a strong swim, Alanis Siffert (SUI) solo’d into the lead and exited almost 2 minutes ahead of Grace Thek (AUS).
During the swim, Philipp had lost meaningful time to the leader, and was almost six minutes in arrears when she hit T1.
🚴♂️ Bike: Early on, Siffert continued her lead and would push for an even bigger gap on the field. By the 60km mark she had more than 3 minutes on Philipp, and over 5 minutes on Thek.
But as the second half of the ride progressed, Philipp showed why she is so dangerous over the longer distance.
With 40km to go, she would catch Siffert, and by T2 the best runner in long course would have over two minutes on Siffert.
She also built up an 8+ minute lead over Nikki Bartlett (GBR) and Thek.
🏃♂️ Run: As the run progressed, it wasn’t a matter of if Philipp would win, but when. Meanwhile behind, an all out battle was brewing for the final podium spots, and early on, Bartlett had established herself solidly in second.
But with only a few miles to the finish, Thek would reel the Brit in. And not long after, Bartlett would be reduced to a walk.
Siffert, sensing blood in the water, also overtook a fading Bartlett. She would claim the final podium spot in third.
FAVORITES
🥑 Omega-3 for thee: Omega-3 all-stars, like salmon and walnuts fuel your heart, brain, and recovery. But why do they play such an important role in your body, and how can you get the right mix of Omega-3’s? Find out here! [Healthline]
☁️ Make aero comfortable: No matter your experience in the sport, sometimes cycling in the aerobars can be a…uncomfortable. But with these six easy tips, you can ride more relaxed in the bars, and faster than before! [GTN]
🧂 Serious sodium: Sodium is the most important electrolyte in your body, and the main one you lose while sweating. So don’t leave understanding it up to chance! This video explains the individual differences in sodium loss, and the dangers of letting sodium losses mount! [Precision Fuel and Hydration]
🔬 Biomarker benefits: For triathletes juggling life and training, advanced biomarker testing can help reveal what your watch can’t - like hidden stress, low iron, or poor recovery. But do you really need one? And exactly how in-depth are the insights? This article has the answers! [TrainingPeaks]
REEL TIME
An incredible battle to the line at 70.3 Sweden that saw an athlete demoted to second for blocking on the finishing straight. Do you think it was the right call?
Another reel. And who wouldn’t love a holiday in the south of France?!? 😂
TOGETHER WITH BLUESEVENTY
From Flaws to Fast: A Pro Triathlete’s Swim Rebuild, Explained
Greg Harper (USA) is an NCAA swimming champion and current professional triathlete. He had the fastest swim split at last year’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships.
Greg recently returned from a week of intense swim coaching with one of the best triathletes in the World, Sam Long. He gives us the inside scoop on how the camp went, and the secrets that will level up your swim!
How did this opportunity to embed with Sam for a full week come about - and what made you say yes?
The opportunity with Sam came about over quite a long time period. We first spoke about working together in December 2024, exchanged a few texts this year but really met for the first time at Eagleman 70.3. We chatted at awards and I said I should come out to AZ to work with him and after he asked his wife and said I wasn't a weirdo, we planned the trip the next week!
What was the format of the swim camp?
The format of the camp was basically a morning session and evening session for about 3-3.5 hours total each day in the pool. The amount of total yards was pretty low for the amount of time spent in the pool and we tried to execute everything with precision. It wasn't about fitness, but changing motor patterns.
Use the gear that Greg, and the best swimmers trust - Blueseventy! And save 20% with code “TEMPO20” at checkout!
What were your first impressions of Sam’s stroke, and what was the initial aspect you worked on?
Initial thoughts on stroke and what we focused on:
Late breath causing a hitch (gets worse with fatigue- stroke rate slows down),
Over rotation of the shoulders particularly on his breath to the left side,
Head a bit buried below the surface,
Holding tension in the neck, slight "snaking" through the water.
We changed his dominant breathing side, used a big buoy/board between legs at times to prevent over rotation, the board between the legs also helps the hip rotate on the right axis and not side to side.
We experimented with a straighter arm recovery (which ended up being more relaxed) that allowed him not to get jammed up trying to keep it all tight. We used the snorkel to find the right head position and removed breathing from the equation before adding it back in.
We used band assisted swimming to help him be more aware of where drag was created.
And finally, body position kick to find length but keeping his scapula’s relaxed.
Did you get any quick wins early in the camp?
I think a quick win we got early in the camp was his breathing side. His breath to the right looked more seamless and it was timed better right off the bat when we tried breathing to that side a bit more!
Stay tuned for part two of our interview and learn:
What swimming interventions provide the most value for athletes.
And what triathletes and coaches get wrong about swim training!
TEMPO TALKS PODCAST
What does new IRONMAN World Championship qualification mean for you?
We break it all down in the latest episode of the Tempo Talks Podcast!
Together with The TriDoc, we bring you the biggest stories in Triathlon,
Training tips to make you faster,
And breakdowns of the latest in sports science and performance!
QUICK NEWS
Siddall’s sayanara: It was an emotional farewell for legendary pro triathlete Laura Siddall as she competed in her final pro race at Challenge Roth. [Slowtwitch]
Spine saviour: When a spinal specialist was experiencing his own back pain, he knew his days racing triathlon’s could be numbered. But after a novel procedure, he’s back doing the sport he loves! [Standard Journal]
Race Ranger data: In a historic first, Race Ranger data from Challenge Roth pro race will be released. [Challenge Roth]
Brownlee tri success: Over 1,000 Wakefield school children took part in a series of fun, non-competitive triathlons - thanks to the Brownlee Foundation! [Wakefield Express]
RACE WEEKEND
IRONMAN 70.3 Jönköping -European Championships
It was a (literal) battle to the line that saw Caroline Pohle (GER) take the European Championship. Fabian Kraft (GER) won his first European Championship.
World Triathlon World Cup Tiszaujvaros
Lisa Tertsch (GER) showed why she is one of the best short course athletes in the game. And Csongor Lehmann (HUN) made it five World Cup wins in his hometown!
LATEST EDITIONS
IRONMAN World Championship qualification overhauled. And are orthotics necessary?
Frankfurt frenzy, and are aero calf sleeves worth it?
Is it World Championships? And which form of fuel is best?
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