Coast to Coast to go ahead

The Coast to Coast has avoided the ever-growing list of major events relegated to the scrapheap in the aftermath of New Zealand’s latest move to fight Covid-19 pandemic.

Having canned the two-day race on Monday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moved the country to the red traffic light setting, organisers confirmed the one-day race, and the mountain run, will go ahead on February 12.

Starting in pods of less than 100, 284 competitors will line up in the 243km longest day and one-day teams categories – running, biking and kayaking from Kumara Beach on the West Coast to Christchurch’s New Brighton Beach.

Another 90 athletes – starting from different sections of the course – will compete in the 30.5km mountain run.

While it’s a significant decrease from the 1400 athletes who snapped up entries within five minutes last March, it at least means the 40th anniversary edition will run in part.

‘‘Government feedback has been that they do not want events to cease altogether; rather they’re