Laurent Vidal and Andrea Hewitt proved victorious in a stunning days racing at the latest round of the National Triathlon Series in front of huge crowds in Wanaka.
The men's race was dubbed the 'Doddsy Challenge' with local boy Tony Dodds boosting the prize money from two thousand dollars to ten grand in a winner takes all pressure cooker.
And Dodds disappoint in front of his home fans, supporters and the local businesses that had contributed to the prize pool, leading out of the water and riding prominently in a group that included Kris Gemmell, Vidal, Ryan Sissons and Aurelien LeBrun, winner in Christchurch last week.
Sissons finished strongly to kick clear of Dodds into second place.
In the women's race it was a group of six athletes who emerged together from the swim, a group that included Andrea Hewitt (Christchurch), Debbie Tanner (Auckland), Sophie Corbidge (Tirau) and a strong representation from Holland in Rachel Klamer, Dane Boterenbrood and Sarissa De Vries.
Corbidge though found the going tough and lost contact on the first lap of 8 on the 20km bike leg and De Vries followed soon after to leave a lead group of four, it was Holland against New Zealand.
It was Hewitt though who prevailed, outsprinting Klamer to the line to win by the barest of margins with Tanner in a good early season hit out close behind in third.