Challenge Roth 2012 - race

James Cunnama and Rachel Joyce reigned supreme at the 2012 Challenge Roth, but there was much more going on at this amazing event.

An estimated 200,000 spectators were served an exciting race in quite beautiful weather conditions.

All images © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com

The spectators arrived early and in large numbers.

Gina Crawford readies herself for the big race.

Let us not forget that this race served as the ETU European Long Distance Championships. White swim caps here are top women and black caps are sub-9 / fast age groupers who all start in the first wave.

Everybody is waiting for those who managed to swim fastest.

The Xentis crew was doing wheel support here.

Cam Brown and a few other Pros crossing the bridge over the canal.

German speedster Konstantin Bachor set the pace on the bike and recorded the fastest bike split in Roth.

Timo Bracht was driving the chase most of the day.

Swiss Pro Mike Aigroz on his way to third place.

James Cunnama rode well in Roth.

Roeland Smits from Holland managed to beat his bib number by one spot.

Many German eyes were on Julia Gajer.

The approach to the Solarer Berg is quite an amazing sight.

James Cunnama pushing through the crowds on the Solarer Berg during the first lap.

But it clearly isn't all about best splits for everyone in the race.

Timo Bracht and Mike Aigroz and the other Pros battled age groupers and the fans during their second ascend of the Solarer Berg.

James Cunnama and Timo Bracht ran together for a long time, but Cunnama proved stronger at the end.

Sonja Tajsich's race best run split propelled her to second place.

The happy men's podium.

Meet the new ETU European Long Distance Champion Rachel Joyce.