The Roth start was a planned event for the 2008 Olympic champion Jan Frodeno, but a surprise late announcement for Brett Sutton protege Daniela Ryf. Ryf withdrew from Ironman Frankfurt 2 weeks ago during the bike segment after she just could not warm up after a cold swim. Frodeno and Ryf are clearly favored in Roth, but we all know that many things can happen on race day.

The men

Earlier this year Jan Frodeno won the important 70.3 Dubai event and impressed folks with a race best bike split along the way. More recently the fast and popular German finished Ironman Lanzarote in the runner-up spot behind American Jesse Thomas, but it appears that the main focus of Frodeno has been Challenge Roth and chasing a potential world best time on that day.

Nils Frommhold who like Frodeno hails from Germany and is sponsored by the German Canyon brand is the defending Datev Challenge Roth champion and he finished the 2014 race in the runner-up spot. We suspect that he will not give up that top spot laying down.

Some of the other male Professionals to watch are Joe Skipper (GBR), Jan Raphael (GER), Tyler Butterfield (BER), Cyril Viennot (FRA), Per Bittner (GER) and Nick Kastelein (GER).

The women

Daniela Ryf also had a big win at 70.3 Dubai which served as the first round of the big money purse Nasser Bin Hammad Triple Crown. Ryf then went as a favorite into the Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt to defend her 2015 title, but unseasonable cold conditions threw a curve ball to several pro athletes including Ryf. With the Roth race so close in time and distance, she should be able to carry all that fitness into Roth and put on a big show.