England vs Germany at Challenge Henley

Created On: 17 August 2011

With just three days left to enter (entries close 19^th August at noon) Challenge Henley www.challengehenley.com looks like turning out to be yet another epic battle between England and Germany but who will win?

For the home side there's Stephen Bayliss an exceptional athlete and winner of previous Ironman races in the UK and South Africa as well as three top five finishes this year, including Challenge Barcelona and Fuerteventura. Stephen will have his long distance triathlon wife Bella Bayliss supporting him, rather than competing herself this year, as they have recently celebrated the birth of new baby Charlie.

Also competing for England and new to long distance road triathlon is Sam Gardner who is an exceptional Xterra athlete and is more to used to winning races with a mountain bike.  It will be very exciting to see how Sam adjusts to a different surface and how this affects his performance. 

For Germany, just announced is legendary multiple winner of ironman and five times Challenge Roth winner Lothar Leder.  Lothar was the first man to break the 8 hour barrier in 1996.  Germany also have Michi Hoffman who is four times and current World Fire Fighter Champion who came in the top twenty at Roth this year.

Throw in Ironman UK 2011 winner Australian Aaron Farlow to the mix, and it looks like we will have a great men's race on our hands!

Related Articles

• Race Report: Grendon Triathlon
• Top ladies race at Challenge Henley
• Race Report: Duston Triathlon
• Olympic skier Graham Bell to take on Challenge Henley
• 77 reasons to visit Challenge Henley-on-Thames at the Triathlon Show