150 athletes ready for big tri

Close to 150 athletes will take part in the Air New Zealand Rarotonga International Triathlon to be staged on Saturday, May 7.

Ninety-four individuals and 20 teams are entered in the race making it the second largest field of competitors in the 17 years the annual international triathlon has been run on Rarotonga.

Twenty-six local athletes are included in the field as well as a number of local teams of two and three persons.

The race will be held once again from the Ngatangiia sports ground and includes a 1.5km triangular swim course in Muri Lagoon starting from the Ngatangiia field.

The cycle (non drafting) is a flat circuit of the island (31km) interrupted with a mostly flat circuit of the airport (10km) which includes a short sharp hill.

The cycle will be on public roads so normal road rules and cautions should be followed, although there will be a police escort 40 metres behind the leading cyclist and marshals who will help ensure the general traffic is under control.

Cyclists are encouraged to carry two drink bottles due to humid conditions.

It is not allowable for any cyclist to start without a bottle or start with an empty bottle.

Bikes will be checked by the race director during the swim stage and any bike without a bottle will have one placed on it.

Motorists are asked to take extra care on the day, especially in the high activity areas in Muri, and the cycle route around the airport block.

The run is a mostly flat 2.5km out, 5km back and past the transition and 2.5km back to the finish.

Last years winners Josh White and Michelle Bremer will not be returning this year so expect to see new faces as overall winners of the mens and womens divisions.

A handful of local athletes are expected to figure prominently, Roland Neururer and Kelly Pick, the recent Tinman triathlon winners, are expected to place well in the race.

Everyone is invited to head along to Ngatangiia next Saturday and support the annual triathlon.