Ryan Sissons (Auckland) has joined the clutch of leading triathletes on the start line in Wanaka at the latest round of the Contact Tri Series this evening, becoming the latest to take up the ‘Tony Dodds Challenge’ and chase double the prize money if he can be the one to beat the Wanaka local and win the latest round of the series.
Sissons has fond memories of the sprint course around the Wanaka lakefront and says he simply had to race.
"I will be heading down to Wanaka for the Doddsy International! Last minute decision but one that had to be made. I am really looking forward to it, I've won on that course before, so why not try it again?
"With the field that is lining up I know it will be tough, it's going to super hard and fast.... but who knows so early on in the season how everyone's form is. It's going to be a race worth watching and racing in, I can't wait."
Dodds has offered to double the prize money to $4,000 to anyone who wins and defeats him on Friday as he looks to promote his home town event and generate further coverage.
Sissons will join Kris Gemmell, Dodds, Martin Van Barneveld, Laurent Vidal (France) and James Elvery as leading contenders over the sprint distance in a race that promises to thrill fans from start to finish with the pace on throughout.
Wanaka's Nicky Samuels is the favourite in the women's race, with her main challenge expected to come from well performed 19 year old Maddy Brunton (Waikato). Racing is in the twilight on a fast course on the Wanaka lakefront with spectacular results for spectators and television viewers.
