Tyler Butterfield finished sixth in an historic Challenge Roth triathlon in Germany — with the race featuring the fastest time over the ironman distance.

Fit again after battling illness and injury, Butterfield posted a time of 8hr 18min 39sec, started strongly with a solid swim (48:56) and impressive bike (4:17:18) before fading in the run (3:08:46).

The story of the day was the scintillating display of Germany’s Jan Frodeno who finished in 7:35:39 to beat the previous fastest time by more than six minutes.

The 2008 Olympic champion and reigning Ironman and 70.3 world champion shattered Andreas Raelert’s existing record on a remarkable day of racing in front of 250,000 spectators.

“I have pains running up and down throughout my entire body,” Frodeno said. “It was a tough, tough trek. I’ll definitely sleep well tonight.

“The race really hurt, but no one gives you a record. Now I just want a chair. I really need to sit down.”

Elsewhere, Joe Skipper became the first British triathlete to go sub-eight hours after finishing in second and defending champion, Nils Frommhold, was third in 2:57:49.

The women’s race was won by last year’s ironman world champion Daniella Ryf of Switzerland, who narrowly missed out on breaking Chrissie Wellington’s world-record mark of 8:18:13.

Ryf also dominated the field finishing in 8:22:04 to come ninth overall.