Challenge Cap-Quebec and Challenge Esprit to offer elusive entries to Challenge Roth

Challenge Roth, the world’s largest full-distance race, is undoubtedly also the world’s most popular event. The 3,500 race entries are taken within 40 seconds once registration opens. Those looking for a chance to compete at the 2025 edition of Challenge Roth will have a unique opportunity to compete at the famous Bavarian event – Challenge Family’s new North American races – Challenge Cap Quebec and Challenge Esprit in Montreal – will both offer slots to the German race through a lottery.

It’s a hit, and there hasn’t been a race yet. Will Challenge Cap Quebec live up to the hype?

“Challenge Roth is the biggest and most exciting long-distance triathlon in the world,” said Dominique Piche, the Executive Producer of Challenge Cap Quebec and Challenge Esprit. “Adding the Challenge Roth Lottery—the only one of its kind in the world—to our new North American triathlon circuit is a concrete demonstration of what’s possible when Challenge Family returns to North America. These are world-class events, and we look forward to having people discover them in a few months for the first time.”

“We’re convinced that Dominique and the entire team share the passion for triathlon and put the athletes in the centre of their events,” said Challenge Roth race director Felix Walchshöfer. “‘All about the athlete’ has always been the spirit of Roth, too. We want to give 30 participating athletes the opportunity to cross the ocean to continue their athlete journey and race in the home of triathlon with us in 2025.”

After introducing Ironman racing to Quebec, Piche is now looking to re-introduce the Challenge Family brand to North America, beginning with the race in Quebec this July. In December it was announced that Piche would add the long-running Esprit event to the Challenge Family, too.

Former Ironman Mont-Tremblant race director brings Challenge back to North America

Valuable slots

“These slots are extremely valuable,” Walchshöfer said in an exclusive interview with Triathlon Magazine last week. “People even sponsor the event in order to get slots for the race.”

While slots to Challenge Roth have been available to certain events in years past, they’ve become even more valuable in 2024. The event has reduced entries by 300 in order to ensure the bike course is even safer after the tragedy at Ironman Hamburg last summer that saw the death of a motorcycle driver and injuries to an athlete and a photographer.

“The events in Hamburg were a bit hit in the community,” Walchshöfer continued. “Security and safety is a priority.”

Esprit Triathlon joins Challenge Family

 

The reduced number of entries makes the opportunity to win a lottery slot at one of the Challenge events here in Canada even more exclusive. Piche travelled to Germany last week to meet with Walchshöfer and his mother, Alice, to pitch his plans for the lottery and to check out the Roth race site.

“It is an honour to participate in this historical event in any way we can,” Piche said. “This is a privilege – we’re treating these entries as a valuable commodity. I learned a lot in Roth last week, especially about the family-rooted values that are integral to the event. Like the Walchshöfers, we’re determined to provide athletes the best possible experience.”

There will 20 spots available in the lottery for participants at Challenge Cap Quebec, with 10 up for grabs at Challenge Esprit. Athletes will have to confirm their interest in the slots during registration, and a draw will be done after the race.