Coast to Coast

A record 1333 athletes - including Crusaders legend Richie McCaw - set off from Kumara Beach this morning on the two-day Coast to Coast.

Competitors leave on foot from the black sands and breathtaking landscapes of the West Coast and run 2.2km inland to their waiting bikes. The following run, which lasts for 30.5km, is mainly off-trail. “She doesn’t have ‘bad’ days on this course, and it will be absolutely no surprise to anyone if she wins again.

Olympic rowing champion used to setting the pace but this time he's just aiming to not slow down his teammate, All Blacks legend Richie McCaw.

* [diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 2013 helped ](https://www.stuff.co.nz/editors-picks/9537519/Retiring-rower-Cohen-offers-his-heartfelt-thanks) [facilitate the end of Cohen’s rowing career](https://www.stuff.co.nz/editors-picks/9537519/Retiring-rower-Cohen-offers-his-heartfelt-thanks) but it has not caused any barriers in his new sporting passion – in fact, it’s helped. [one half of New Zealand’s cult hero ](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300261644/grant-elliotts-magic-moment-gets-hit-for-six-at-the-halberg-awards) [double sculls pairing](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300261644/grant-elliotts-magic-moment-gets-hit-for-six-at-the-halberg-awards) – along with Joseph Sullivan – [who came from fourth at the 1500 metre mark to scorch to the unlikeliest of gold medal victories](http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/7395733/Kiwi-double-scullers-claim-Olympic-gold-medal) in that unforgettable final in London back in 2012, has dabbled in mountain biking and off-road running since his retirement in 2013. “We’re not super serious around it, it’s more a chance to get out and enjoy our back country that New Zealand offers but at the same time you sort of want to make sure that you naturalise your capabilities in what you do in the event.” [2018 ](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/105849594/geraint-thomas-trust-me-to-be-a-clean-tour-de-france-champion) [Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/105849594/geraint-thomas-trust-me-to-be-a-clean-tour-de-france-champion) – since their retirements and a casual conversation about the Coast to Coast has turned into this weekend’s adventure across the main divide. Cohen will be leaning on McCaw’s experience in the race and format but expects the pair will be able to work well together to manage their strengths and weaknesses and keep at an even pace. [Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw reflects on past painful lessons of Coast to Coast](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/110437510/former-all-blacks-captain-richie-mccaw-reflects-on-past-painful-lessons-of-coast-to-coast?rm=a) [Richie McCaw, Rob Nichol take tumble in kayak at Coast to Coast](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/110479468/richie-mccaw-rob-nichol-take-tumble-in-kayak-at-coast-to-coast?rm=a) [no stranger to the t](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/124220806/all-blacks-great-richie-mccaw-finishes-coast-to-coast-in-best-nick-yet) [wo day tandem event](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/124220806/all-blacks-great-richie-mccaw-finishes-coast-to-coast-in-best-nick-yet), will team up with first-timer Cohen, for the 243km race that traverses across the South Island to the finish line at New Brighton Beach. [All Blacks great Richie McCaw finishes Coast to Coast in best nick yet](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/124220806/all-blacks-great-richie-mccaw-finishes-coast-to-coast-in-best-nick-yet?rm=a) [a two time world champion and Kiwi sporting cult hero](https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/9537696/The-rise-and-rise-of-Nathan-Cohen) but when that teammate is an [All Blacks legend, turned experienced multisport competitor, by the name of Richie McCaw](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/119370190/richie-mccaw-much-happier-with-coast-to-coast-second-placed-finish), you can see Cohen’s point. [Nathan Cohen has spent most of his life setting the pace](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/75254338/olympic-gold-medalist-nathan-cohen-leaves-rowing-new-zealand-to-take-up-chinese-coaching-role) but this time he’s only worried about not holding up his teammate.

Over 20000 athletes have competed in the Coast to Coast multisport​ race since it began 40 years ago, but one man refuses to move with the times and will ...

He’s completed the one-day event four times and the two-day three times. [nine-time winner Steve Gurney](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/100240045/coast-to-coast-five-tips-from-ninetimes-winner-steve-gurney). After leaving rugby, former All Black captain [Richie McCaw gave it a go](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/119370190/richie-mccaw-much-happier-with-coast-to-coast-second-placed-finish) too. They are not overly stable.” But he’s taking a giant step back from his work and a step back in time too. The 36-year-old has done the race seven times. were hard as nails, they had no idea what they were in for. Refusing to shift is an exaggeration. They borrowed a bike. Wānaka’s Matty Graham is a sports scientist who specialises in getting athletes to move faster, be fitter and eat better. [Three-time Coast to Coast winner Braden Currie throws a spanner in the works](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300515573/threetime-coast-to-coast-winner-braden-currie-throws-a-spanner-in-the-works?rm=a) Over 20,000 athletes have competed in the Coast to Coast multisport race since it began 40 years ago, but one man refuses to move with the times and will race like it is 1983.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw and Olympic rowing champion teammate Nathan Cohen have lived up to their all-star billing at the iconic Coast to Coast on ...

McCaw and Cohen have a 20 minute lead going into day 2 of the tandem open male section.

Sitting in the second bunch on the first bike ride, Sutherland let the lead breakaway go, knowing he had to conserve some energy with the mountain run ahead of him. It was a great effort, for while McCaw is an experienced Coast to Coast campaigner, Cohen, who won gold with Joseph Sullivan in the double sculls at the 2012 Olympics in London, is competing in the event for the first time. [The sporting duo, easily the most recognisable pair racing in the Coast to Coast](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/131178542/coast-to-coast-all-blacks-legend-richie-mccaw-and-olympic-champion-nathan-cohen-tackle-twoday-tandem), crossed the line in 6 hours 39 minutes, 55 seconds, and will head into the final day with a 20 minute lead over Craig Ginders and Ben Dampier-Crossley, with an hour back to Henry Moore and Mike Walker in third place.

Among them are some of our most elite athletes, including All Blacks great Richie McCaw and Olympic rower Nathan Cohen. The pair have teamed up this year and ...

“I'll never say never but it’s a whole other level of training to do,” he said. “The good old rugby socks and your standard Adidas,” he said. “It’s always good to get out and do these things, epic part of the country and good to chase this guy [McCaw] around the mountains and things like that,” Cohen said.

Defending champion Simone Maier and last year's runner up Elina Ussher are both over 40 - but showing no signs of slowing down.

The Coast to Coast Longest Day Race is underway, with mirroring approaches from the two leading elite female competitors 11 February 2023 - article from The Coast to Coast Longest Day Race is underway, with mirroring approaches from the two leading elite female competitors