2016 Datev Challenge Roth day 3

The passionate town of Roth is bustling now as most of the athletes have arrived. Final workouts, expo visits and race package pickups kept everyone busy and we also noticed a few nervous words and looks.

The swim practice at the Europakanal is a popular activity and the weather played along nicely.

Slowtwitcher David Daggett has been at this race many times and feels very much at home.

This athlete did his morning swim with a Head swim buoy.

Eric Oberg, Stacy Sims, April Pawlowski, Ed Butler and Eric DePoto from the Rev3 Triathlon team are among many Americans here.

Team SpeakUp raises money money and awareness for the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation for teen depression.

Dirk Bockel is in town too and works here as a moderator. He was seen today in Hilpoltstein made RunnerTune shoes.

It is pretty easy to guess why Nils Frommhold might love the town of Roth.

Jan Frodeno and Nick Kastelein did a 2k swim set at the pool in Roth. For Aussie Kastelein this will be his first full distance race.

Frodeno and Kastelein swam stroke for stroke while we were there.

Many other triathletes who wanted to avoid the hustle and bustle at the Europakanal swam at the pool instead.

A triathlete cycles past this very cool wooden SWAT helicopter.

Detlef of Cervelo Germany is a very good mechanic much to the delight of the athletes racing here.

There are only 10 of these unique and very clever Quintana Roo PRsix integrated stems. These stems are the handy work of Lasse Ibert who also knows hoe to race well.

The Leguano brand markets their shoes as a barefoot alternative. Behind this yellow one is another completely rolled up.

Mario Konrad with a sleeved triathlon suit of the brand new Ryzon brand. Nick Kastelein is racing in one of these.

The Live Rank system weighs only 40 grams and can either be worn on a chip band or race belt. It measures 40x40x14 and runs up to 21 hours. When the tab is pulled the emergency signal will be launched.

Carrie Lester was the runner-up last year at the Datev Challenge Roth and is looking to step up a spot this year.

Miri Engel and Hendrik Haumann from the German town of Trier seem prepared for this race.

Triathletes are taking over the town.

All images © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com