Auckland City Tri stalward named flag bearer for Wollongong worlds

🇳🇿 Roger Spice has quietly epitomised everything that is great about grassroots triathlon as a good club man at Tri NZ Suzuki Series events and as a regular member of Team NZL at offshore races for the best part of two decades. Now, the proud Auckland City Triathlon Clubmember is quite literally set to fly the flag for Kiwi age group swim, bike and run.

Spice has been unveiled as the flag bearer set to spearhead the 266-strong Kiwi team in the Parade of Nations at next month’s World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Wollongong.

It’s rich reward for a Team NZL career that began in Australia in November 2006 and has taken Spice to 15 world championships in 10 countries. And counting. 

“I was fortunate to wear my first NZL uniform in Canberra 2006 [and] 19 years later, the magic of the uniform remains my why,” said Spice who will be 64 by the time Wollongong rolls around.

“I am proud and honoured to be flag bearer for such an inspirational group. Let’s support each other, have fun, race hard and Black Out ‘The Gong!’”

Spice is down to race the standard distance triathlon and mixed relay in the 60-64 category in Wollongong in what will be his 22nd and 23rd races for Team NZL. 

“No podiums yet! I have been trying though,” said Spice who counts his 8th in the super sprint at Abu Dhabi 2022 as his offshore highlight, a result matched in a Kiwi heavy sprint when Kinloch hosted the worlds in 2014.

Spice has a message for newcomers and Team NZL returnees headed for Wollongong, all of whom will be excited to learn T100 campaigner Kyle Smith has been confirmed as the guest of honour at the official team dinner at WIN Stadium on October 14. 

“Let’s Black Out The Gong with podiums and Kiwis racing hard!”