Wounded champion aims to defend Taupo Ironman 70.3 title

Braden Currie celebrates his breakthrough win at the Kellogg's Ironman 70.3 Taupo last year. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wanaka's Braden Currie will be somewhat worse for wear when he lines up to defend his Kellogg's Ironman 70.3 title in Taupo on Saturday.

The 30-year-old former multisport star enjoyed a breakthrough victory at Ironman 70.3 Taupo last year, and was targeting his successful defence.

However Currie crashed on a training ride in Wanaka last week, writing off his bike and leaving him also somewhat second-hand by the experience.

"It's been a bit painful but I have recovered okay and while I have some scars, I will be on the start line for sure on Saturday," Currie said.

He rode over a freshly painted white line on the road, and slid in front of a car but avoided serious injury.

Currie said while he was able to come in under the radar last year, he is not planning any different approach to his racing strategy on Saturday against an impressive field including 12-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown, fellow multisport gyro Dougal Allan, and Ironman Australia champion Paul Ambrose.

"The Ironman 70.3 Taupo race is world renowned and is definitely something to have on the CV so it's very exciting to be coming back and defending my title," Currie said.

"I wasn't really expecting the first one, I thought that I could be up near the front at the end of the bike but then it would become a runners' race. I wasn't sure if my run would stack up, but I managed to get out at the start and hold that lead.

"It will be different going back as these guys know now how I race and what I do. But I won't be changing how I race, I'll race to my strengths and I'll be going for the win."

The three-time Coast to Coast champion made a belated attempt to qualify for the Rio Olympics over the standard distance triathlon, and although that proved too little, too late, he believes it has been beneficial to Ironman 70.3 racing.

"I am faster and improved as an athlete, and have learned so much that is making me more competitive," Currie said.

Currie is still mixing his career across multisport and offroad triathlon - he finished third last month in the ITU Cross World Championships in Australia - and said there are benefits in cross training.

"Being used to transitioning disciplines, the crossover to Ironman 70.3 has not been too difficult," he said.

"I think Cam Brown discovered it a few years ago that strength and resilience training and having a good strength base helps maintain that crossover between disciplines and you don't become to singular.

"For me, as a farmer, every day was physical and I was always moving logs and lifting, so I found I was quite strong and being able to maintain that strength increases the ability to race and also the longevity to race."

There are more than 1200 competitors from 30 countries competing, with age groupers chasing qualifying spots for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in USA.

There are 19 entries from Rotorua, with Max Bragg, 72 the eldest local entry and 18-year-old Alie Henderson-Corporaal the youngest local participant.

Racing begins at 6.15am with the male winner expected around 9.45am and the female winner approximately 10.15am.

Online entries have now closed but registrations will be taken in person tomorrowat the Event Office, Great Lake Centre, Taupo.

Rotorua entries for 2016 Kellogg's Ironman 70.3:

Female: Kelly Albrecht, Rachel Birdsall, Kerris Browne, Elizabeth Gellatly, Katrina Gray, Carol Harwood, Alie Henderson-Corporaal, Julie Howard, Lee Meijer, Nicola Muggeridge, Knisha Ruland, Melissa Waller, Vicki Wheeler, Kaye King.

Men: Max Bragg, Chris Browne, Martin Carlyle, Steven Gray, Olly Shaw.