European Champion Richard Ringer Set for Tough Challenge at Haspa Marathon Hamburg

European marathon champion Richard Ringer is set to return to the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on April 27, opting to forgo defending his continental title at the European Championships earlier in the month. The German marathoner, who clocked a personal best of 2:05:46 in Valencia last December, making him the third-fastest German of all time over the distance, will face a formidable field. Among his competitors are at least four athletes with significantly faster personal bests, led by former London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, whose 2:03:13 personal record makes him the joint fastest runner ever entered into Germany’s premier spring marathon.

A High-Caliber Elite Field

“We are still finalizing the elite fields, but as things stand, we can expect a fascinating men’s race," said Frank Thaleiser, chief organizer of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, during a press conference in Hamburg. "With the caliber of athletes on the start list, this will be the strongest field in our history. Richard Ringer may not be the favorite, but he has shown time and again that he can defy the odds and deliver a surprise.”

The 39th edition of the event has already attracted 15,000 participants, marking one of the highest entry numbers in years.

For the first time, Hamburg will feature three runners with sub-2:04 personal bests. In addition to Kipruto, Ethiopian stars Guye Adola and Kinde Atanaw bring world-class credentials to the race.

• Amos Kipruto, 32, ran his 2:03:13 PB when he finished runner-up to Eliud Kipchoge at the Tokyo Marathon in 2022. Later that year, he secured his biggest career victory at the London Marathon (2:04:39). Kipruto has consistently performed at an elite level, having run sub-2:05 times in both 2023 and 2024. His time ties him with Emmanuel Mutai, who entered Hamburg in 2018 with the same personal best.
• Guye Adola holds a PB of 2:03:46, achieved in a remarkable debut marathon in Berlin (2017), where he pushed Kipchoge to the limit before finishing second with an unofficial world debut record. While injuries have disrupted his career, the 34-year-old Ethiopian still has the potential to deliver a top-tier performance.
• Kinde Atanaw, who set his 2:03:51 PB when winning the Valencia Marathon in 2019, remains a formidable competitor.
• Philemon Kiplimo, a rising Kenyan star, has demonstrated more recent form, running 2:04:56 in Berlin (2023). He also placed third in last year’s Haspa Marathon Hamburg (2:05:37).

Richard Ringer’s Return to Hamburg

Prioritizing Germany’s premier spring marathon over his European title defense, Richard Ringer, 35, returns to Hamburg with fond memories. It was here in 2022 that he improved to 2:08:08, securing a 6th-place finish and meeting the Olympic qualifying standard.

“The course and the atmosphere at the Haspa Marathon Hamburg are fantastic, so choosing to return was an easy decision," said Ringer. "This time, I am tailoring my training even more specifically for this race to ensure I am in peak form on the day.”

Looking ahead, Ringer has his sights set on competing in the World Championships marathon this summer. A proven championship performer, he won the European title in Munich (2022) and has consistently been Germany’s top finisher in Olympic marathons, placing 25th in 2021 and 12th in 2024.