MULTISPORT

Iconic Motatapu Plays Host To 3,500 Competitors

By Gracie Productions

Close to 3,500 competitors will line up at the Macpac Motatapu this weekend for the 13^th hosting of this iconic multisport event that takes competitors from Glendhu Bay (Lake Wanaka) to Arrowtown, by water, foot, bike or a combination of the three in the UDC Finance XTERRA triathlon.
 
The Miners Trail has 690 entries, the off-road Marathon 437, the Ultra Run 96, the UDC Finance XTERRA Triathlon 225 and the Skoda Mountain Bike 1,916 entries as the event continues to be one of the most popular one day multisport events in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
The quality of the elite fields is world class, with competition hot in almost every category of racing, highlighted best in the men’s category in the SKODA Mountain Bike Race, as a host of leading professional riders look to see their name engraved alongside some of the greats in the sport such as Anton Cooper, Sam Gaze and Dirk Peters.
 
There are however many great stories of inspiration and achievement, as competitors travel from all around New Zealand, and indeed around the world, many of them bringing family and supporters with them to enjoy time in the beautiful Queenstown Lakes Region before or after competing.
 

Of the 23 different countries, Australians are best represented with 270 entrants making the journey this week to compete across the range of events on offer. A snapshot of the other internationals sees 28 Americans lining up, 6 from the Czech Republic, 4 entries from Great Britain, and 3 from Argentina - including 73-year-old Luis Rene Menendes who is the oldest to line up in the Ultra Run.
 
Other countries to be represented on Saturday include Denmark, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Philippines, Germany and Sweden.
 
While the SKODA Mountain Bike event continues to be the most popular event on offer with 1,914 riders, those choosing to run or walk total 1,221 when taking into account the Miners Trail, Off-Road Marathon and Ultra Run.
 
There is extra spice in the UDC Finance XTERRA Triathlon too, with the race acting as the official age group qualifier for the New Zealand team to the ITU World Cross Triathlon Champs in Penticton, Canada in August.
 
There are 16 spaces available per age group for the Tri NZ Cross Tri team who will compete in the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. To qualify athletes must compete and place within 20% of the winner in their respective age group and complete a selection nomination form before midnight on March 7, all details are on the www.triathlon.kiwi site.
 
Macpac Motatapu
March 4, 2017
Wanaka to Queenstown
www.motatapu.com