Multisport: Leishman hopes to be the comeback king

Multisport athletes Mark "Cabin" Leishman and Nic Leary have a little something special planned for tomorrow's XTERRA Rotorua Festival.

It's the tenth anniversary of the event and this year more than 2500 entrants from around the world will compete in either a run, walk, mountain bike race or off-road triathlon around the Tikitapu (Blue Lake) area.

To mark the occasion the Rotorua couple will welcome three new members to their Black Dirt Racing team, in the form of local John Gray (sixth in XTERRA last year), current New Zealand Masters mountain bike champion Tony Keith and former Olympic track cyclist Matt Randall.

Leishman said the Black Dirt brand was established a couple of years ago but until now had just been himself and Leary.

"It represents what we love about racing," he said. "The brand is what we do. Black for New Zealand and dirt for the outdoors."

He said they had decided to involve a few others who had similar values and shared their passion for the sport.

"We will compete as individuals but we will support each other, hang out together," he said.

Leishman, 33, is one of the top contenders for the mens' triathlon, in a field that includes three of last year's top four finishers. The mountain bike specialist has competed in seven XTERRA Rotorua triathlons, making the podium five times.

"I am probably the fastest Kiwi never to win it," he said.

"It would be nice to complete the set of medals with a gold."

A motocross accident in November meant Leishman missed two months of training with a snapped forearm, so tomorrow marks his comeback.

"I am strong but I am feeling like if it was another three to four weeks I would be fine," he said. "But I've still got a shot."

Leishman said the favourite for the race would have to be Australian Ben Allen.

"It's his race to lose. He's a full-time pro, well-prepared and got some form," he said.

Scott Thorne (Hamilton) is another Kiwi expected to challenge for the title, while Leishman tipped "freakishly good" half ironman Graham O'Grady (Taupo) as a possible dark horse in his first XTERRA event.

In the women's event New Zealand and Oceania mountain bike champion Leary is also on the comeback trail after 15 months of illness and injury.

The 28-year-old won the event in 2009 and 2010 but tomorrow will be her first real test since returning to fitness.

In what could be a "battle of the couples" Allen's girlfriend Jacqui Slack (Australia) is shaping up as Leary's main competition, along with Renata Bucher (Switzerland).

Leishman said the atmosphere was what made the XTERRA Rotorua Festival such a great day out.

"It's so many people from so many different sporting backgrounds coming together," he said. "There's an energy about the thing."

The 11km and 21km trail runs and walks start at 8am, the 26km mountain bike event at 9am and the XTERRA team and individual triathlon from 11am.