Kieran McPherson can’t wait to be back on familiar trails after a topsy-turvy start to the new XTERRA World Cup season in Dunsborough, Western Australia.
The Matamata world No.11 is a confirmed starter for this weekend’s XTERRA Rotorua Festival in what will be his sole 2025 start outside the eight round, off-road triathlon World Cup.
McPherson is 4th overall in the 2025 XTERRA World Cup standings after backing up his short track 2nd on Thursday with an error-strewn 5th in Saturday’s full distance race. Danish world No.3 Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen tops the standings after winning both races in Meelup Regional Park, including the 1.5km swim, 31km bike, 10km run full distance race in 2:26:38.
A series of crashes on the bike course and a navigation error on the run proved costly for McPherson (2:30:42) who finished runner-up to Aussie Benjamin Forbes (2:30:34) in the Asia-Pacific Championship race within the race in WA.
“I had a pretty good swim—settled in with the pack. The bike started with a pretty hot pace and I came off three times in the first lap from pushing too hard and not thinking clearly,” McPherson said.
“The second lap was all about finding rhythm again and not bleeding too much time. On the run, I was closing in on Ben, but during the first lap I took a wrong turn and ended up on the bike course.
“I met a marshal about 30 seconds up the road who told me I was off course, so I had to turn around and come back. All up, I lost about a minute there. Ben deserved it though—he rode really well today.
“I’m pretty disappointed in my own performance. It was just poor decision-making… but you live and you learn.”
The familiar surrounds of XTERRA Rotorua – a 1km swim in Blue Lake and 26km mountain bike and 11km trail run in Whakarewarewa Forest – should mean McPherson doesn’t get lost this coming Saturday.
“I’m looking forward to some good European mates coming to Rotorua, where I’ll be able to host them. We’re going to have a good time,” McPherson said.
“My focus this year is fully on the World Cup—Rotorua is the only race I’m doing outside of that, and that’s just because it’s a fun course and only 40 minutes from home. I’m looking forward to heading over there, licking my wounds, and coming back stronger.”
ORCHARD SAVOURS DUNSBOROUGH RETURN
Aucklander Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Orchard is 6th in the women’s World Cup standings after improving on her short track 7th on Thursday with 6th place in Saturday’s long distance race.
Orchard, who won XTERRA Australia on the same Dunsborough course last year, was 3rd in the Asia-Pacific race within the World Cup race behind Kiwi-domiciled Maeve Kennedy and the Australian’s countrywoman Hannah Lee Young.
“I had fun on the bike—just so much fun out there,” Kennedy said.
“I wasn’t quite in the groove during the first half of the first lap. You really have to focus the whole time. I forgot my gloves too, so my hands were slippery at first, but once they dried out, things felt much better.
“I was riding around Hannah for most of the bike—switching spots, taking turns in front—it was really fun to ride together like that.”
Orchard hasn’t yet committed to racing in Rotorua but will show either way.
“…And a little message to the New Zealanders: I’ll see you next weekend in Rotorua! Not sure if I’m racing yet, but I’ll definitely be there. It’s such a cool event, even if you’re just watching.”
Like Sloth Nielsen, Frenchwoman Alizée Paties won both women’s races to top the World Cup standings heading into round two (of eight) in Vouliagmeni, Greece on April 26. Three-time reigning world champion and World Cup titleholder Solenne Billouin is second overall after 2nd and 3rd placings in WA.
KIWI AGE GROUP MEDALS
Wanaka’s Arna Craig won the women’s 40-44 title and impressively finished the leading age group female overall in 3:26:27, while Nixon Oliver captured the inaugural Asia Pacific Youth A division (14-15) in 36:28.
Craig, a Swim Bike Run cover star after winning cross tri gold and cross duathlon silver at last year’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Townsville, can rightly be proud of her effort in Dunsborough.
Saturday’s 1.5km ocean swell-impacted swim and 31km mountain bike and 10km trail run on loose singletrack was an eye-opener for Craig who finished within 25 minutes of pro Orchard.
“…this was one of the hardest races I’ve ever done. I’ve only raced XTERRA Rotorua before, and this was next level,” Craig said.
“Since arriving from New Zealand, I’ve ridden the mountain bike course every second day, which gave me confidence—not just to perform, but to really enjoy it.”
SBR-Tri.com will be reporting live from XTERRA Rotorua Festival on Saturday. The festival incorporates the final event of the 2024-25 Tri NZ Suzuki Series, the NZ Cross Triathlon Championships. It serves as the official Cross Tri qualifier for June’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
