This year’s Challenge Wanaka has attracted its strongest-ever pro field of 27 athletes who’ll be racing next month (22 February), with Britain’s Joel Jameson among them.

Advertisement

Jameson, whose career highlights include victory at the Outlaw (2011) and bronze at Challenge Henley (2013), will be facing competition from defending champion Dylan McNeice (NZL), Jose Jeuland (FRA) who placed third at Challenge Vichy 2014, and Braden Currie (NZL) making his long-course debut.

In the women’s pro field, Gina Crawford (NZL) returns for a crack at her sixth Wanaka win, and is joined on the start line by three American athletes, Kristin Lemos, Charisa Wernick and Katya Meyers, all Wanaka first timers.