Leading Kiwi triathletes Bevan Docherty and Terenzo Bozzone have confirmed their places in next month's Ironman 70.3 Auckland which doubles as the Asia Pacific Championship.
 Bevan Docherty(Photo: Ironman 70.3 Auckland; click to enlarge) |
They will join 10-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown and Australian Christian Kemp who will defend the title he won early this year in the inaugural event, among the early confirmations among professionals.
The high profile pair has had opposing fortunes in 2013, with Docherty finishing runner-up in Auckland on his way to two further 70.3 wins in USA but failing to finish at both the Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World Championships.
Bozzone withdrew on the eve of the race in his home city after crashing into an opening car door on his final ride. The resulting injuries put him out of the race and Ironman New Zealand but his season fortunes turned around with nine straight podium finishes including three wins and runner-ups at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships and ITU Long Distance Worlds.
Docherty, the two-time Olympic medallist, made a successful move to endurance distances over the past 12 months, racking up three victories, finishing third in the 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Championships and winning on debut at the Kelloggs Ironman New Zealand in Taupo.
He caught a stomach bug and faded at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas and withdrew on the run in his debut at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, when he was unable to keep down any nutrition.
"It certainly wasn't the finish to the season that I had planned," Docherty said. "I was in terrific shape but this endurance stuff, particularly Ironman is new to me. I said when I took it up that I was confident about swim, bike and run but there's a fourth discipline which is nutrition that is new to me.
"In Olympic distance racing you just took a drink bottle and that's it. It is part of the learning process and I come into the second year of Ironman racing much wiser and better prepared. You learn most from your mistakes."
Bozzone, beset by an Achilles injury in 2012, then had his progress stalled by the freak accident before January's inaugural Auckland race.
He re-found his mojo in the second half of the season, reeling off three wins in Florida, Mandurah and Shepparton and was never off the podium, highlighted with the outstanding second placing in Las Vegas.
"You always want more of course but to come from the dark place I was in and have such success is rewarding," Bozzone said. "It really hurt to miss this chance to compete in such a big race in my home city. So I think I will be doing my bike training on an indoor trainer until the race," he joked.
"This race means a lot and I would love to do well in my home town, with friends and family there."
Docherty, too, is keen to return to the Auckland waterfront where he has enjoyed considerable success.
"Every chance you get to race at home is special and I am looking forward to it and to bring my family out from America to be there."
A strong Australian contingent is expected to cross the Tasman for the race that offers approximately NZ$90,000 prize purse and significant qualifying points for the world championship.
The professional field is finalised at the end of the month.
