Kiwi Wins Iron Distance Challenge Taiwan

Kiwi triathlete Dylan McNeice has won the inaugural Challenge Taiwan triathlon over the iron-distance. This win follows on from Dylan’s breakthrough victory at Challenge Wanaka in January, where he famously beat ex World Champ Chris McCormack in his debut at the distance.

“I went in to Challenge Taiwan with what I felt was a bit of weight on my shoulders, which was self-inflicted of course. I really wanted to prove that I wasn’t a one hit wonder and could be consistent against any field, on any terrain, and in any climate. I had a few issues in Wanaka that I knew I needed to sort out if I was to do well here. Pains in my lower back on the bike being one and tightening of my quads on the run being the other. My build up went incredibly well and I have to thank my Coach, Tim Brazier, for that.”

“My sponsors have been nothing short of sensational and I have to send a massive thank you to my new and old ones alike. Brooks Running (a few extra longer runs sorted my quads), Specialized Bikes, Profile Design, High 5 Nutrition, Rudy Project, and a special thank you to the guys at Chain Reaction Cycles in Christchurch for sorting me out with a BG Fit on my new Shiv and no back issues to boot!”

McNeice from Christchurch raced at the front all day as he had done in Wanaka, leading Australian double Olympic rower Todd Skipworth by three mins from the 3.8km swim. From there he never looked back and was never challenged, eventually winning by over 10 minutes.

“Out on to the bike I pushed too hard for the first 45km and felt that on the second lap. The bike course is really something; dogs, scooters, and of course the scenery, which winds along the coast with surf breaks always seen out of the corner of one eye and mountains within view out of the other.”

“I really only held the 3 minute gap throughout the ride to Todd and the German athlete Georg Potrebitsch, who eventually finished second and after 180km I came off the bike a little apprehensive with what I thought had been a bit too much effort out there.

"I got running on the marathon and found some good legs straight away. The plan was to run steady for an hour, pick it up for an hour, and then just hold on. I held that three minute gap until about the hour mark and then started to pick it up.

"I pushed that lead out to nine minutes in that middle section and managed to hold that until the finish line, with a few hiccups in the last 5km, as will probably be the case in every iron-distance race I do.”

To win two Iron-distance triathlons on the first two attempts is unheard of in this unforgiving sport. With this Taiwan win in an impressive 8hrs16mins, the unassuming McNeice has certainly raised eyebrows around the world and will have the more established stars looking over their shoulders when he next toes the line.

“To go two from two in Iron-distance racing is a night and day reality considering where I was only five months ago (on the verge of retirement). I’m not really sure what I have got myself in to here. I guess people will expect me to race at the front from the gun in every Iron-distance event I do now. It’s a scary thought. It’s lonely and very hard up there, but it is worth it once it has all settled in – give me a week, right now I am just happy it is over and was once again simply just relieved to have crossed that finish line.”

“To all my friends and Family out there, thank you and I will see you soon. To everyone else who has supported me, thank you for pushing me through those tough times.”

Dylan will now return to Christchurch to recover before heading to Europe to prepare for Challenge Roth, Germany in July.

New Zealanders Guy Crawford and Jamie Whyte finished 6th and 7th.

Results

1. Dylan McNeice             NZL        8:16:21
2. Georg Potriebsch        GER        8:27:06
3. Fredrik Croneburg      SWE       8:28:28
4. Petr Vabrousek            CZE         8:35:55
5. Todd Skipworth           AUS       8:42:25