E-bikes in a race where you can also sub in an Olympic Games freestyler to swim for you. Not on Triathlon New Zealand’s watch, surely? Pure and utter sacrilege!
What, what…
Mechanical doping will not only be condoned at the Napier Triathlon Festival on Feb. 23, it’s being actively encouraged by the sport’s national governing body, and with the blessing of World Triathlon to boot.
Indeed, participations won’t even have to get wet in the ‘Napier Tri-er’, the beginner friendly community race scheduled on the morning of New Zealand’s annual World Triathlon Cup stop.
Rather Beijing ’08 Olympian William Benson (pictured) has been roped in to do the Tri-er’s opening 300m of freestyle for you.
The only non-negotiable? You will have to complete the 2.5km run/walk without any outside assistance, save for the encouragement of the gathering crowds and your newfound swim, bike and run peers.
Traditionalists be damned? Not exactly. Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet explains the rationale behind the Napier Tri-er’s “skip the swim” and “cheat the bike” concept, the brainchild of Race Director Shanelle Barrett.
“We’re on a mission to make triathlon the most inclusive and accessible community sport in New Zealand and we’re not afraid to ruffle a few old-school feathers to accelerate that goal,” De Wet said.
“One of the most common barriers to people entering our sport is a fear of the swim, particularly in open water. While the waters off Ahuriri Beach are relatively sheltered, we don’t want anything to get in the way of somebody trying our sport for the first time or returning to it.
“That’s why you can have a celebrity swimmer complete the 300m swim for you. You’ll take their time and they’ll tag you onto the bike and off you go. And why wouldn’t we allow E-bikes? They’ve commonplace on our roads and mountain bike parks nowadays so why wouldn’t we create a division for them?
“This is all about driving participation. No medals, much less Olympic medals, will be handed out on the day but it may just unearth a star of the future.
“In the very least we hope to encourage a few more Kiwis to get active. We’re confident they’ll be hooked once they’re exposed to the our sport and our incredibly supportive community.”
De Wet is so committed to the initiative he’s set to race on his own E-bike and has challenged leaders from across corporate Hawke’s Bay to join him.
“Anyone who witnessed my return to triathlon after a long layoff at the last World Cup held in New Plymouth two years ago will agree I need the e-assist,” De Wet joked.
“I’m actually in one of the key demographics the Napier Tri-er E-bikes category is targeting…once sporty middle-aged Kiwis who just need a gentle nudge to get back into sport.
“We’re proud of the fact there’s a race and pace for everyone in triathlon. Maybe the E-biker from Napier 2025 will transition to a conventional swim, bike and run race in the future or they’ll return on their E-bike next time. Either way it’s a win-win.
“One thing is for sure… I’ll be there at the back of the field helping my fellow plodders knock off the 2.5km run!”
You can find out more about Napier Tri-er here.
In addition to the opening round of the World Triathlon Cup season and the Napier Tri-er, the Napier Triathlon Festival is also hosting the finale of the Tri NZ Junior Series and the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Sprint Championships on the Sunday.
The 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run age group sprint nationals serve as the sole qualifier for the World Triathlon Age Group Championships scheduled for Wollongong in October.
For the first time, the Napier Triathlon Festival will also incorporate a community oriented open water swim on Saturday, Feb. 22. The ‘Napier Port Ocean Swim’ has four individual events ranging from 200m for kids, up to 2.5km for U15s and over, plus team options.
For more info and entry details, visit the official Napier Triathlon Festival website.
