Macca's first race at the distance in Europe in 2003 eventuated in one of the sport's greatest races in Roth, Germany, where Macca was beaten in a sprint finish by Lothar Leder (winner of more than 13 Ironman events). Macca won the event eventually in 2004, followed by 2005, 2006, and 2007. He went under 8 hours at Challenge Roth in 2004 (7:57:50), becoming the first non-European to do so. He did so again in 2005 (7:56:13) and 2007 (7:54:22). In 2008, McCormack broke the 8-hour mark at Ironman in Frankfurt, becoming the first man to go under 8 hours on two different courses.