Whakatane’s Sam Clark made it three wins in a row while South African Robyn Owen claimed her first win in today’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast World Championship Longest Day. The hyped women’s race lived up to expectations with Owen, who was second in her first attempt last year, storming through the mountain run and kayak to build a 20 minute lead heading into a nervous final 70 kilometer bike leg admitting she was “riding scared.” 2013 and 2011 Coast to Coast winner and three-time world champion adventure racer Sophie Hart gained on Owen on the final bike leg only to run out of road to finish second just three minutes and 50 seconds behind Owen’s winning time of 12 hours and 44 minutes. In a tight battle for the final podium spot Simone Maier was third ahead of defending champion Elina Ussher and Corrinne O’Donnell. “It’s so good to get the result after all the hard work over the last few months,” Owen said. “It’s been a phenomenal goal and it’s great to be back here in New Zealand. I was pretty sure Sophie was catching me on the final bike and I was tied, feeling pretty spent after the paddle, so was so happy to hold on.”
