Former All Blacks Captain, Richie McCaw, will take on his fourth Coast to Coast multi-sport race next week, competing in the tandem competition with long-time friend and NZ Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol for the third time as a pair.
The duo will start the tandem race alongside 75 other teams at Kumara Beach on the South Island's West Coast where they will attempt to run, bike and paddle the 243 kilometres to New Brighton beach in Christchurch.
In last year's race McCaw and Nichol finished second, 12 minutes behind the winning team of Josh Harris and David Slater.
"Like every year, we are going out to do our thing and not get too caught up in who else is there, but we are both competitive and there certainly are some talented athletes entered this year," said McCaw.
Richie McCaw and Rob Nichol on the Coast to Coast run Photo: Kathmandu Coast to Coast
McCaw was forced to consume baby food two years ago after the 40-year-old fell ill the night before the start of the race while Nichol struggled with cramps in both his calves and quads in 2020.
"We'd just like to have a year where both Rob and I feel good and healthy at the same time, so we can see how we can actually go," said McCaw.
Richie McCaw completing the mountain run section of the coast to coast Photo: Photosport Ltd 2017 www.photosport.nz
McCaw and Nichol will come up against Commonwealth Gold winning former New Zealand Rugby Sevens player Josh Blackie and his brother Adam.
It will be Blackie's second time giving the gruelling event a go having completed the two-day individual race in 2018.
"I really enjoy the camaraderie and being able to get out and train with some mates for an event like this. So, we will see how we go." Blackie said.
"Rob and Richie have a fair bit more experience than Adam and me at this sort of stuff, but it'll be fun out there keeping each other honest."
-RNZ
