Kiwi cycling great set for first Ironman tune-up

New Zealand cyclist Gordon McCauley is about to take the first step towards his ultimate goal of competing at Ironman New Zealand next year.

The 39-year-old multiple national champion, now retired from professional cycling, is set to compete at the Contact National Duathlon Championships on Sunday 14th August. Located in and around the Taupo Motor Sport Park, the race consists of a 10km run, 40km bike and 5km run.

While the Commonwealth Games individual time trial bronze medallist is expected to easily notch up the fastest bike split of the day, McCauley admits the run will be a challenge.

The race is his first multisport hit-out of the year, while he will also line up at the Taupo Half Ironman and Port of Tauranga Half leading up to Ironman New Zealand in March.

“I think for me it’s something different and new. I want to start doing more events so thought I may as well do National Duathlon Champs, it’s not far from home and will be good experience,” he said.

“I’m hoping to run around 37/38 minutes for the first run and then hoping I can do around a 56 minute ride. Normally I’d ride 51/52 minutes over 40km but the run’s gonna take a lot out of me.

“Results wise it’s all unfamiliar ground for me but I think if I could finish in the top 10 I’d be pretty happy.”

McCauley’s main motivation for Ironman New Zealand is to break the record for fastest time on the 180km bike course. The record is currently held by late American cyclist Steve Larsen who completed the ride in a scorching time of 4hrs, 26m and 45s.

“At Ironman the goal is to try and set the bike record. But the guy that set the bike record there was a great cyclist, Steve Larsen. He was a Tour de France cyclist and a lot better than me.

“I’ll know after the first lap [whether I can break the record]. I know the numbers I have to stick to on the power meter.

“If after the first lap it’s not on I’ll back off and try and do a good run. If I can have a nudge I’d like to think I can still run a four hour marathon. But you never know, I’ll need to have a tailwind back from Reporoa otherwise I won’t have a hope.”

Over the past few months McCauley has been juggling coaching and work commitments with serious swim training five days a week alongside swim coach Ali Boggs.

He is also out running, but having been a pure cyclist all his life he finds the impact very tough and gets pain in his ankles.

“I’ve got to learn to run essentially. I’ve been running two months but it’s difficult – the impact just destroys me and I’m not used to it.

“My ankles get really sore. I literally can only run twice a week. I can’t run any more than that because my ankles won’t deal with it - they cop a hiding.”

Despite the pain, McCauley is confident he can put in a respectable run time at Ironman New Zealand.

And while he’s not even dreaming about being close to the top finishers, he’s enjoying the challenge of testing his physical and mental limits in new ways.

“It’s very exciting. I turn 40 next year, so as a bike rider I’m not getting any faster, in fact I can feel I’m getting slower. But with running and swimming I’m making massive improvements so it’s really exciting.”