The Kathmandu Coast to Coast is an iconic multi-sport event based on the South Island of New Zealand. Held every February the race starts on the West Coast, at Kumara beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide where competitors reach over 1000 metres above sea level, finishing on the East Coast in Christchurch at the Pier on New Brighton beach.
Whakatane’s Sam Clark made it three wins in a row while South African Robyn Owen claimed her first win in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast World Championship Longest Day. The hyped women’s race lived up to expectations with Owen, who was second in her first attempt last year, storming through the mountain run and kayak to build a 20 minute lead heading into a nervous final 70 kilometer bike leg admitting she was “riding scared.” Besides the One-day men and women competitions, Oliver Thompson and Jennifer Walker took home the glory for dominating their opponents in the two-day category of the iconic race.
One-day individual men:
1: Sam Clark (NZL) – 11.14.33, 2. Alex Hunt (AUS) – 11.43.57, 3. James Pretto (AUS) – 11.53.05
One-day individual women:
1. Robyn Owen (RSA) – 12.44.56, 2. Sophie Hart (NZL) – 12.48.46, 3. Simone Maier (NZL) – 13.02.21
Two-day individual men:
1. Oliver Thompson (NZL) – 12.21.28, 2. Matthew Clough (NZL) – 12.24.16, 3. Tony Phillips (NZL) – 12.37.28
Two-day individual women:
1. Jennifer Walker (NZL) – 13.12.01, 2. Florence van Dyke (NZL) – 13.36.53, 3. Rachel Baker (NZL) – 14.05.07