Three-time world champion triathlete Sebastian Kienle has confirmed his place on the start line at the Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka race next month. 

Challenge Wanaka will mark the start of Sebastian’s year-long ‘retirement tour’, taking part in bucket list races before finishing his career as professional athlete at the end of 2023.

“Every year I looked at all the great pictures from Wanaka and thought ‘one year I’ll break the mould and go there’,” Sebastian said. 

“Well, the years flew by and now it is my last year in the sport and it’s time to fulfil a couple of dreams I still have in the sport - racing Challenge Wanaka is up on the top of this list.”

The Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Festival features more than 13 events and culminates with the flagship event on February 18, when Sebastian will join other world-class athletes for one of the world’s most scenic triathlon events.

Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Festival, billed as one of the world’s most scenic triathlons, attracts almost 3,000 athletes to Wānaka. PHOTO: Challenge Wanaka

As well as three world titles, Sebastian (who is from Germany) has been in the top five at Kona, Hawaii, no less than five more times and he has taken wins at DATEV Challenge Roth and Challenge Family’s The Championship, in Slovakia.

He is renowned as one of the world greats in the sport of triathlon, Challenge Wānaka organisers said.

He will be joined on the start line by a predominantly Australian/New Zealand field including Matt Burton, who recently placed third at IM Western Australia, a race he won the year before; as well as Caleb Noble, who had three podiums to his name in 2022; and the up-and-coming Sam Osbourne.

The women’s field is headed by Rebecca Clarke, who calls Wanaka home for much of the year, giving her a strong hometown advantage, and has had a string of career-best results in 2022.

Her main competition will come from Australian Grace Thek, who had no less than five podiums in 2022, as well as Courtney Gilifan and Samantha Kingsford who will also both be aiming for a podium finish.

The Challenge Wanaka course favours those strong on the hills: both on the bike, which has a vertical gain of over 490m, and the run, which is entirely off road on the trails of the Bike Glendhu mountain bike park and climbs 368m over the two-lap course. 

Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Festival runs from February 16-18 and attracts close to 3,000 athletes to Wānaka.

Find more information here.