Courtesy: event press release

Quelle Challenge Roth triathlon (3.8 km S/180 km B/42.2 km R) closed general registration on Friday, announcing that it had booked the world's largest athlete field ever, representing 41 nations and eclipsing Ironman-branded events world wide in only its third year as an independent ultra-distance race. In essence, it proves that such events are able to not only survive, but also thrive without the brand name once thought to rule the scene with an iron fist.

"Positive relationships and trust build loyalty, and this is the reward of twenty years of triathlon in Roth. What we have comes from the athletes, the cities and County of Roth, our sponsors, volunteers, and employees who continue to feel the passion and fascination of triathlon," says Herbert Walchshofer, president, TEAMChallenge GmbH. "When we made the decision to become independent, we told the athletes to expect same quality of community and sponsor support, and we kept our word. Our numbers are about the athletes' trust and loyalty. Participants know we put them first and that Roth is proud to open its arms to them each year."

While 50 new slots were added Friday for international athletes (to be filled on a first-come, first-served basis), management closed general registration two weeks earlier than planned, as the field swelled to 2,100 individuals and 550 relay teams, for a total of 3,750 participants. Roth, long known as a safe, draft-free and spectator-friendly race, starts its athletes in staggered swim waves and fields a high volume of marshals on the bike course.

More than 100,000 energized spectators are expected on race day to line Quelle Challenge Roth's super-charged, hilly route which courses through Bavarian hamlets, and 35,000 visitors are anticipated for the large, four-day expo. The expo and finishers' stadium returns this year to the newly named, completely redesigned and landscaped Triathlon Park in downtown Roth, a city of 24,000 people about 30 km south of Nurnberg.

Walchshofer's team previously forecasted for moderate annual growth and its first full field in 2006, however, "the big picture is that the numbers are about the spirit of independent triathlon and the festival of a lifestyle," he said. "The message to other independent directors is to maintain the special feel of their race, always nurture all of your relationships and always look forward."

The media, top-level professional and age group athletes have called Roth the "Wimbledon of triathlon" and compared it to a Tour de France stage. Inside Triathlon (USA) called the 2002 edition the "Best Old Race" and in 2003 called it the "Most Exciting Race." In 2003, 11 million television viewers watched Challenge Roth coverage.

Quelle Challenge Roth's sponsors include: Quelle AG, Deutsche Post AG, N-ERGIE, DB Regio, Newline, Nurnberger Nachrichten (Nurnberg Newspapers), Bayrische Versicherungskammer, Maxim, Phillips, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Sud, ADAC, Arndt, Recaro, PowerBar, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpolstein, Coca-Cola, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Lorenz & Partner, INKO Energy, Flor & Sohn, Spedition Heinloth, and BIESTMILCH.

For more information on the July 4, 2004, Quelle Challenge Roth and Triathlon Festival, Deutsche Triathlon Union (DTU) ultra- distance International German Championship and Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters, the on-line forum and to receive the event's newsletter, visit www.challenge-roth.com.