After months of injury struggles and barely any training, Sam Laidlow has pulled off what many thought was impossible: a triumphant return to the top of Long Distance triathlon with a spectacular win at Challenge Roth. In an electric showdown – primarily against Germany’s Jonas Schomburg – the Frenchman claimed one of the most prestigious titles in the sport, marking not just a race victory, but the emotional closure of a long, painful chapter in his career.
From Uncertainty to Glory
For Laidlow, this was more than a race – it was a personal redemption. The former Ironman World Champion had endured a harrowing stretch of physical setbacks that at times reduced his training to mere minutes of swimming, biking, or running before his body would shut down. Whether he would ever return to elite form was in serious doubt.
But on July 6, 2025, all that changed.
A Strong Start in the Water
The day began with a non-wetsuit swim, and it was South African Henri Schoeman who exited the water first in 46:17. A tightly packed chase group followed within 30 seconds, including Laidlow, Schomburg, Vincent Luis, Aaron Royle, Lukasz Wojt, Daniel Bækkegård, Florian Angert, and others. The stage was set for a dynamic bike leg with nearly all the top contenders in contention. Notable names like Thomas Bishop (+2:25), Frederic Funk (+3:04), and Jesper Svensson (+3:08) found themselves on the back foot early.
Schomburg Goes All-In on the Bike
What began as a large front pack on the bike quickly exploded when Jonas Schomburg launched a solo attack, reminiscent of his performance at Ironman Frankfurt a week earlier – though this time, his bike held together. Within the first 40 kilometers, the German built up a gap of over 2:30 on the chase group.
Laidlow, sensing the danger, made his move and broke clear of the chasers, but the gap to Schomburg held steady for a long stretch. As others in the chase group began to fade, the race turned into a two-man battle.
Laidlow Bides His Time, Then Strikes
With 40 kilometers left on the bike, the tide began to shift. Whether Schomburg was fading or Laidlow was surging (or both), the gap began to shrink. By T2, Laidlow had cut Schomburg’s lead to just 50 seconds. Luis was third into transition, 4:06 behind, with Frederic Funk making an impressive comeback from 16th to 4th and entering T2 just over 5:30 back. Stratmann, Stoll, and Grosse-Freese followed shortly after.
A Race of Twists on the Run
Laidlow’s hard-charging bike leg seemed to take a toll in the early kilometers of the marathon, as Schomburg began to stretch his lead again – gaining over two minutes in the first five kilometers. Luis stayed steady in third, with Funk continuing to hold fourth, albeit now seven minutes off the pace.
But around the 15-kilometer mark, the race flipped once more. Schomburg still held a lead of more than three minutes, but Laidlow was gathering steam. Over the next few kilometers, he began to reel in the German rapidly. By the halfway point of the run, the gap was down to 1:55. With Luis fading further behind and Funk and Stratmann out of reach, it became clear that the duel was now strictly between Laidlow and Schomburg.
The Decisive Move
Kilometer by kilometer, Laidlow chipped away at Schomburg’s lead. At the 29K mark, he finally made the pass – and never looked back. From that moment on, the Frenchman didn’t just lead, he dominated, putting time into every contender with every stride.
He crossed the finish line in Roth not just as the day’s victor, but as a living testament to resilience, grit, and belief. For Laidlow, this was not just another win – it was perhaps his most meaningful, his most emotional, and certainly one of his most impressive performances to date.
Laidlow won Challenge Roth in 7:29:35. Schomburg finished second in 7:31:24 and after a nice battle between Stratmann and Luis, it was Stratmann finishing third in 7:37:59.
