MAN Truck & Bus
20 Sept 2024
This record goes beyond imagination: extreme athlete Jonas Deichmann has completed the long-distance triathlon - 120 days in a row. A MAN TGE served as his oasis of calm.
3.8 kilometres of swimming, 180 kilometres of cycling and 42 kilometres of running: That's the long distance in triathlon. What is already a peak performance as a one-off competition, Jonas Deichmann took it to a new level this summer with his successful 120-day challenge. The German extreme athlete completed the long distance 120 days in a row on the world-famous course in Roth near Nuremberg.
The course was not only a physical challenge, but also a logistical one. The transition stations were always equally distributed: The swim was at the Rothsee lake, Deichmann took a short lunch break in Hiltpoltstein while cycling, and the finish line after the marathon was marked by the Roth fairground. ‘It was extremely important for him to have a van as a retreat for this challenge. It had a central function: when Jonas came out of the water, he could take off his wetsuit and put on his cycling clothes. Or he could simply relax for ten minutes,’ explains Björn Loose, Head of Marketing at MAN Truck & Bus and an enthusiastic amateur sportsman himself.
The cooperation with MAN came about through Ryzon, an outfitter and sponsor of Jonas Deichmann, which specialises in triathlon and cycling. They swear by MAN vehicles. ‘For this particular challenge, they needed a camper that was spacious enough not only to accommodate the sports equipment, but also for the athlete to retreat to,’ says Loose.
Retreat: The MAN TGE served Jonas Deichmann (left) as an oasis of calm and a changing room.
The choice fell on the MAN TGE with a length of 6.83 metres, which can be used as a camper van with the appropriate conversions. Rocket Camper converted the TGE in close cooperation with Jonas Deichmann, and the van remained under a permissible total weight of 3.5 tonnes despite the integrated kitchen, toilet, indoor shower and espresso machine.
Comfort and functionality were important when it came to the conversion. ‘The van is set up so that we can transport up to three bikes inside and set up a lounger in a few simple steps, which Jonas uses for short power naps during the day. As the van is always surrounded by spectators in the transition zones, we also need it as a changing room and retreat,’ said Sammy Deichmann, the athlete's father, in an interview during the 120-day tour. ‘We will use the van as a team vehicle to look after Jonas during the challenge. We will be at the respective supply points and in the transition zones with the vehicle every day.’
Crowd puller: Even during the breaks, Deichmann was surrounded by fans.
Above all, it was important that there was storage space and drying areas for clothing and that the racing bikes could be transported safely. ‘It was interesting to see how many sports enthusiasts were interested in the TGE. They found the idea of being able to simply put a racing bike in the back and at best also have the comfort of a motorhome exciting,’ Loose observed on site.
Tireless: Jonas Deichmann cycled 180 kilometres every day.
Jonas Deichmann has been setting himself extraordinary goals for years. In 2017, he circumnavigated the Eurasian landmass by bike in 64 days - an impressive 14,331 kilometres. This was followed by further solo adventures, such as crossing the USA in 2023, when the man from Württemberg cycled from the east coast to the west coast and completed the 5,000 kilometres after just one day's rest. From 9 May to 5 September 2024, he then attempted to complete as many long-distance triathlons as possible in a row. In doing so, Deichmann broke the record of 105 repeats set by Britain's Sean Conway, which was only one year old.
It was important to the German to approach the competition as more than just a sporting project. Long distances are normal for him - but what effect do they have on the body? A physiotherapist looked after his muscles and musculoskeletal system, a doctor looked after his health. Bernd Langenstein is the head of the Institute for Sports Medicine at Nuremberg Hospital and regularly examined the extreme athlete. The result: Deichmann's resting heart rate is between 40 and 50, and even during the marathon it only rises to 110 beats per minute. Jonas Deichmann documented daily data on his performance, oxygen saturation and fluid intake, which the doctor analysed.
Regeneration: A physiotherapist looked after Deichmann's muscles and musculoskeletal system.
One of Jonas Deichmann's declared goals is to make endurance sports even more popular. He has achieved this. He only swam alone in the Rothsee on two rainy days, the rest of the time he was always accompanied by early swimmers. The same applies to cycling and, above all, the 42-kilometre run. Björn Loose also accompanied the ultra-triathlete during the 36th and final stage of the run. He remembers: ‘The atmosphere along the route was simply gigantic. It was very touching to see how the people in Roth celebrate the triathlon. A good 300 people took part on the final day. Jonas Deichmann was actually always accompanied by people of all ages. Some were highly trained, others simply ran a few metres with him. It was their way of being close to this great athlete.’
Great athlete: no effort is too much for Jonas Deichmann - let's see what comes next.
Text: Anke Kotte
Photos: Marc Bernreuther / MAN
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