Aucklander Terenzo Bozzone and Great Britain's Laura Siddall have been crowned champions at Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand.
It was a day which saw race records smashed as the event celebrated 20 years in Taupo and 34 years in total, second only to the Ironman World Championships in Kona, which celebrates 40 years this October.
Bozzone broke through at the 10th time of trying to win his first Ironman New Zealand title, executing a perfect race plan in not only breaking the course record, but going under the magical eight-hour mark in the process, clocking 7h 59m 56s. So quick was the race in fact, that the first three all ducked under Cameron Brown's 2016 race record, with Joe Skipper (GBR) second and Brown in third at the ripe old age of 45.
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Bozzone was emotional after the win, moving through the field on the bike after Dylan McNeice built a three-minute lead during the 3.8km swim.
"That is pretty unreal, 10 years of trying, maybe I am a slow learner. I tried to go out with patience on the day and was more conservative on the first lap [of the bike]. Usually I go out Gangnam style and get a big lead and try to hold it out.
"There was a good group out of the swim, then the pace slowed down early on the bike which was nice, and a few guys looked to make a go of it at the end of lap one. I thought 'let's give it a crack' and tried to go, I gave myself 15 minutes to chase and bridge the gap and at the end of that 15 minutes, I had caught up," Bozzone said.
He reversed those tactics on the run, emerging out of transition side-by-side with Skipper, but immediately putting the foot down in what was essentially the winning of the race.
"On the run I went out harder than I usually do, but I had different goals and wanted to go hard early and see how long I could hold on for. My brother was out there on the course, and I wanted to catch him by the time he finished his first lap, I managed to do that and will head out now and cheer him home too.
"The biggest thing keeping my spirits up was the support out there, from the competitors, but also the volunteers and marshals, they are all amazing. And the spectators, who kept saying 'this is your year, this is your time'. I have heard that before I guess, but I thought okay, maybe this time they are right."
Bozzone paid tribute to Skipper for his "amazing strength" on the bike and was also delighted that a hero of his was with him on the podium.
"I am so happy Cameron was on the podium, he is a great ambassador, a mentor and what a role model, but yeah, I can't believe I have won one."
Brown was philosophical at the end of a day that saw him go quicker than he ever has before in 20 Ironman races in Taupo.
"I made a tactical error on the bike and the gap opened up between me and Terenzo and Joe, a bit of a silly move on my part but you can't complain, 45 years old and still going quicker than my record and I get third, so it is still a good day.
"My hat is off to Terenzo, he had a fantastic day, I knew he would win it one day so what an amazing day to go under the eight-hour barrier," Brown said.
Defending champion Braden Currie withdrew early on the bike leg, unable to overcome the effects of the flu, while Mike Phillips rounded out a good day for the New Zealanders with a fifth place finish behind Jan van Berkel (SUI).
In the women's race Siddall broke through after a runner up finish last year, emerging from a titanic battle with 2017 champion Jocelyn McCauley, who was overtaken late in the run by surging Kiwi Teresa Adam who finished second in a hugely impressive debut.
Siddall took inspiration from the on-course commentators and spectators who willed her to victory.
"Right on the turn with me and Jocelyn together I heard the commentators on the PA say it would come down to who believes, I took that with me. Earlier going up the hill on the bike I heard people shout the same thing. I felt awful on the first lap of the bike and was praying I had some run legs, with someone like Jocelyn running behind you, you are never really sure. And Teresa had a great day, what an amazing athlete, she has such a future," Siddall said.
She didn't bank the win until she saw the red carpet and enjoyed an emotionally charged final 50m to the finish tape.
"I thought I was taking some time out of Jocelyn on the first lap on the bike but struggled on the way out to Reporoa and managed to get back on top coming into town. I couldn't get rid of her though and knew with the wind it was going to be hard. It was only when I overtook her on the run going out on the second lap, even then you know she is a tough cookie and I didn't know if I was going to collapse on that third lap.
"This means so much to me, I love the people here, the support is always incredible, and it meant so much to me to hear everyone cheering my name, this is amazing and such a wonderful feeling."
Adam reflected on an amazing debut performance over the distance that saw her lead out of the water and finish second, all achieved on her 28th birthday.
"Happy birthday to me, that is really awesome. I am not sure where I pulled that out of, but I am stoked and had a fun day, this is such an awesome race, the volunteers, the crowds, the organisers, it is just brilliant.
"Coming in training for an Ironman you have to drop something a little, so I hadn't done as much swimming, but it is my strength and I went out there and swam tempo and got through it," Adam said.
2018 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand Results
Pro Men (overall time, swim, bike, run)
1 Terenzo Bozzone NZL - 7h 59m 56s; 49m 10s, 4h 22m 05s, 2h 44m 16s
2 Joe Skipper GBR - 8h 05m 32s; 51m 47s, 4h 19m 13s, 2h 49m 46s
3 Cameron Brown NZL - 8h 07m 09s; 51m 34s, 4h 28m 57s, 2h 41m 55s
4 Jan van Berkel SUI - 8h 10m 27s; 49m 05s, 4h 31m 27s, 2h 45m 29s
5 Mike Phillips NZL - 8h 13m 47s; 49m 02s, 4h 27m 40s, 2h 52m 42s
Pro Women (overall time, swim, bike, run)
1 Laura Siddall GBR - 9h 00m 44s; 55m 31s, 4h 54m 18s, 3h 06m 11s
2 Teresa Adam NZL - 9h 05m 35s; 49m 32s, 5h 01m 13s, 3h 09m 34s
3 Jocelyn McCauley USA - 9h 12m 51s; 52m 59s, 4h 57m 02s; 3h 17m 43s
4 Alise Selsmark AUS - 9h 42m 58s; 53m 01s, 5h 21m 29s, 3h 22m 14s
5 Indy Kraal NZL - 9h 44m 26s; 55m 25s, 5h 12m 08s, 3h 41m 42s
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