Daniel Baekkegard, Challenge Roth | Beyond Human: The Series | Ep 5

Having Magnus winning it last year, I think that was... Your 2022 Challenge Roth champion, Magnus Dittler. He is overwhelmed. Yeah, that is basically everything I think about. Daniel Beckergaard really has fully focused this first half of the year on this race. My expectations are sky high. Daniel Beckergaard, wow. He's just showing the class athlete that he is. I would not do this if I was not driven to victory and to win. Yeah, he's a podium contender, but has he got what it takes to get on top of the podium? I view myself as, right now, as learning a whole lot. It feels like everything is going 200k an hour. There's so much I have to learn. Every day I get challenged in different ways. Of course, I'm a human being, but I'm also a person who really want to inspire the next generation. If I didn't enjoy what I'm doing, then it would be difficult to get up in the mornings and feel driven. Do you still view yourself as the motherfucking greatest? I'm the motherfucking greatest. Of course. One part of why I am in Samuel Rydge right now is I needed some time to kind of just focus on the right stuff and get my, you know... Yeah, I started journaling, for example, and back home, I did not really feel like I had the time to do that. It's a good way of doing it, just taking it two steps back and just asking yourself the right questions, because then you also get some right answers. I've been through a period of time where it was a pretty steep learning curve. There was more and more things from the outside that kind of pressured, and I had a long time where I felt a bit stressed and not really focusing on the right stuff. I'm not sure it's a change of direction I'm in right now, but it's more just kind of wrapping my head around what's actually important in my life. I've had the picture of, like, when I go to races, I have to win. And that's completely wrong, because then you can almost only set yourself up for failures. Sometimes I overdid it in training because I wanted to be 101% ready. Luckily, my coach picked off on that and kind of made me relax a little bit more in training, and he's still teaching me to see the bigger picture in what we're actually doing. Last year, that was kind of a disappointing season from my end. I thought I was better than what I delivered last year, and also I struggled a bit with some injuries. 100% I dropped out of the spotlight, because I did not deliver when I wanted to deliver. Daniel's got some stuff to prove. Hawaii didn't go well for Daniel last year. He's always there and in the mix, but to really hit that top level, I think this is a crunch season for Daniel Bakkergaard. I think for the first time ever, I'm actually looking forward, really looking forward to races and also at the races, actually, I want to be there. I'm not really scared of racing anymore, and I just feel like I'm ready. It's not that kind of pressure to win. It's more an eager. And there's a huge difference when you start standing on the start line. Welcome to the 21st edition of the DATEV Challenge Roth. Roth is a once-in-a-lifetime event, where the vibe, the spectators, the whole energy comes together. I decided early last year that I wanted to race it. I couldn't manage last year, so it would be this year. And, you know, I've had butterflies in my stomach ever since, because it's just, it means so much. Roth is so far my favorite event in so many ways. Obviously, I won there last year. The atmosphere is what makes it the most special. The crowd is amazing. The course is super nice. It's these rolling hills, which I really enjoy. I really feed off the energy of the crowd. I love the big sports moments. We have close to 300,000 spectators here on course, and it's just one of a kind. It's going to take an epic performance to to win there on that day. The field lined up at Challenge Roth this year has got all the potential to see two of the fastest races we've ever seen in the sport. Like, basically, it's like a world championship caliber field. There's not a lot of guys we are missing. Magnus is clearly the favorite going into the race. He'll be the one to beat. I still think Magnus Dittler from Denmark is the man to beat. However, you throw Sam Laidlow, Daniel Bakkegaard, Patrick Lange, Ben Kanute into the mix, and honestly, I cannot tell you who's going to take those next two spots on the podium. I hope I'll be the one drinking out of the stand. Daniel Bakkegaard is certainly one to watch, but what Daniel does not want to be is one to watch for the next five years. Of course, I want to be a rising star because I don't feel like I am a star yet. I know a lot of people believe in me that I have what it takes. I think I am the motherfucking greatest. I just want to show the world what I can do. And that's what I'm working on right now. We've seen Magnus Dittler, the fellow Dane, come in and really usurp him in many ways in terms of what he's achieved. Yeah, basically, he just did a better job until now. I hope we've changed a couple of things that will turn tables. Maybe the one big thing about Magnus Dittler, the Norwegians respect him, and I think that says a huge amount. Did you think you'd be where Magnus is right now? Yes. That is what everybody has been waiting for. Our top swimmers, of course, being Ben Kanute from the US and Robert Wilkiewicz. We do expect these two to take an early lead, but of course, we've got Sam Laidlow, Daniel Beckergaard, Patrick Lange, Bradley Weiss. Look at this shot of having the men's and the women's field in one back to back. Great to see you. Of course, our favorite, our defending champ, Annie Howe wearing bib 101. But what I am really interested in seeing this year are these three women. Daniela Ryf, Laura Philippe here for the very first time, and Chelsea Sedaro, our current Ironman world champion. I do think I've spotted the light blue cap of Patrick Lange in that first pack. Now, that's dangerous. That's dangerous. We know the man is a weapon on the run. Our lead women, that's Fenella Langridge on the front. She's been on the front since the gun. That's Daniela Ryf from Switzerland right on her heels. And then we know that it's a minute ten back to our chase group. Here we are. 46 minutes and change for the first to get out, get their feet on land, hopefully have a smooth and fast transition. So Ben Kanute from the USA leading this group. But he's been over it quite a few times, as we can see. Doing exactly what he does best, going straight to the front of this race. I'm blown away that, you know, this duo has come out and put the time in that they have. Daniela, you know, the last couple of years, she's had some ups and downs, but we know when she's on, she is indeed on. Seeing Magnus and Sam getting that crowd cheering, it's honestly, unless you've done this, you cannot really describe the feeling that you have as an athlete. Wow, Chelsea Sedaro, almost three minutes now. Four and a half minutes for Laura Phillip. Wow. Just as we see Magnus looking back, trying to see who's still with him, we know that Sam Laidlow is still with him and Daniel Bakkegaard, he is back up there now as well. So we've got the three lead men. Daniela Ryf looking absolutely magnificent right now on the bike. To have 14 minutes already on the likes of Annie Haug is truly incredible. We've been given reports out on course right now that these two men on screen, Sam Laidlow and Magnus Ditliff, are definitely on course to break the record. We have been told now that it looks like Daniel Bakkegaard had problems with his shifting. Hopefully he can get that fixed, but so disappointing for Daniel Bakkegaard. If my calculation is right, that will be a 3.59. Oh, my gosh. I mean, that is that is mind bogglingly quick. So that is Ben Kanute and Patrick Lange now into T2. It's going to be upward of about 11, closer to 12 minutes. The big mover through the field is no other than Joe Skipper. He is riding now along with Daniel Bakkegaard. Look at them now, they're in unison. This is incredible. Daniela Ryf, having had an incredible ride, I have no doubt at all that she has broken her previous record here of 4.31. We know that she's going to be going around the 4.25 mark. So that is absolutely flying. The only way that they are going to lose this race to Patrick is if they blow up like Patrick can run the marathon of his life. He's not going to catch them on a normal day. Looked like Magnus is making a bit of a move through that aid station. But I think it's just Sam that's fallen off the wagon. Chelsea Sadaro, what a run she is happening now up into second position. You know, he oh, oh, here we go. Sam coming to a halt. There's something in his calf or something. Yeah, it looks like he's stretching his hamstring or his calf. Does not look good. Oh, gosh, this is heartbreaking to see. Come on, buddy. Oh, come on. That's all right. It looks like he's just got a cramp. Yeah, for sure. He's he's suffering and he's dying. Daniel Bakkegaard, who had lots of issues with his shifters, he is in fifth place and looking where our spotters have been saying quite a lot better than Sam Laidlow. So Daniel Bakkegaard, so good to see him rally. Sam Laidlow is now exactly halfway between Patrick and Magnus Didler. So Patrick has made up another good chunk of time. He's now nine and a half minutes down on Magnus. Oh, wow. So we've got a change here. Now, this is interesting. Annie Haug now overtaking Laura Philippe. We know that Chelsea Sadaro is up ahead. So this is now Annie Haug in third place. And I dare say it will not be long before we see Daniel Bakkegaard make his way into fourth place. Magnus Didler, of course, still leading the way. He looks fantastic. He is still moving very, very well. Patrick's on target to run a 2.32 marathon, while Magnus is on target to run a 2.37. That will be the fastest time that Magnus has ever run. Daniel, I mean, that's another race of the day to have been kind of derailed with a mechanical. Get your head back into the game and realize that it's actually not over. And, you know, he's in fourth place. And to have that mental fortitude is a real credit to him. Look at this crowd. It is absolutely packed. They're about to witness something spectacular. Magnus Didler, look at that time. We are at seven hours, 24 minutes and 29 seconds. The winner of Challenge Roth for 2023. Being embraced by no other than the GOAT himself, Jan Frodeno. The new world best time of 7.24.40. Incredible. And here he comes. Patrick Lange of Germany, one of the crowd favorites. He had one of his signature runs yet again. He's one of the best, if not the best marathon runner in the sport as he crosses the finish line in 7.30 and change. And I think he's just seen his run time. Oh, he was wanting to run from 2.30 and I think he's just seen the 27 seconds. He was oh so close. Ben Kanute from the USA. Coming home in third place here today. He's run so very, very well. And look at that time, Laurel. 7.36. Absolutely fantastic. And he's given it everything. Look, he's got absolutely nothing left. Daniel Bakkegaard is now across the finish line. He is quite emotional and I totally understand why. If you had have asked me at about halfway through the bike ride here today, he had really nasty mechanicals where he had absolutely no shifting. He was stuck in one gear. I thought his race was done and dusted. For him to fight back and to finish in fourth place is true testament, not only to the calibre athlete that he is, but to holding it together. Unbelievable. And he should be exceptionally proud of his performance here today. Daniela Ryf doing it in style here today. This lady still looking absolutely fantastic. And, you know, it's exactly what we expected. Annie Haug, honestly, she was so far behind Laura when they came into T2. I remember seeing Splitton going, even to someone of the calibre of Annie, the greatest runner in the sport. I just thought, even for Annie, this is going to be just, it's impossible. But look at her now. We're going to try and get you an update with Chelsea Sedara, when she has not come up on our screen for quite some time. Here she comes. Chrissie Wellington there, ready, ready to be the first to congratulate her. Oh, and look at the emotion. It's unreal. I think she's sped up. I think she's sprinting around the finish. Daniela Ryf, your 2023 Challenge ROC powered by HEP, champion in a time, in a time, Laura, of 8.08.21. That is ridiculous. 10 minutes, 10 minutes. And, you know, I think Chrissie just shut it, bowing down to what an incredible effort it is. Yeah, we have just witnessed something very, very special. Annie Hubb, our defending champion. She's fought so hard today. She's brought out her trademark marathon. And she's coming home in the second place today. The time of 8.21.08. She has given it absolutely everything on that marathon. Her marathon time at 2.44.45. She's missed it by 10 seconds. Laura Philippe also crossed the finish line. I'll have to be honest, there was a point in time on the marathon up on the canal where she did look like she was faltering ever so slightly, Laura. To see her pull it back together and to come home finishing in third. True testament to just how tough this young woman is. We have to remember the marathon at the end of a full distance. It's still a long way to run, but I think a third on the podium here today behind the likes of Daniela Ryf and Annie Hubb. I hope she's really proud of her performance today.