With the 2025 Kathmandu Coast to Coast fast  approaching, 22-year-old Josh Nichol is being widely regarded as the favourite to win the highly competitive Elite Youth category.

Introduced for the first time in 2024, the Elite Youth under-23 category has quickly become a key feature of the race, showcasing the next generation of top endurance athletes.

Nichol, originally from Pokeno, first competed in 2023 in a tandem team with his Dad Rob Nichol before competing in the under 23 category last year. 

He said he’s hoping for a “smoother” performance than 2024 where he was pulled off the gruelling mountain run stage 28km in with extreme fatigue and ended up in hospital.

“I just kept pushing myself and eventually got into a bit of a zombie-mode,” said Nichol.

“I wasn’t in a good way.” 

Nichol said his focus for this year was to not go out too hard at the start and make up as much time as possible in the mountain run which has historically been his strength.  

Nichol initially caught the bug for Kathmandu Coast to Coast after being support crew for his Dad and tandem teammate Richie McCaw. 

“Those two were really good at focusing on their own race instead of everything around them.”

Nichol will have a tough job ahead of him to claim victory with a strong field of youth athletes including Methven’s Anthony Kearvell who’s ranked in 2nd and has dedicated the last 4 months specifically to training for the iconic event. 

As the race grows in popularity, the new Elite Youth category offers young athletes a unique platform to compete against the best in the sport.

Race director Glen Currie said he’s been impressed by the calibre of athletes the category continues to attract.

“The Under 23 Elite Category was an exciting addition to the event last year and it didn't disappoint! There was incredibly close racing in both the male and female categories and the calibre definitely confirmed the 'elite' title,” he said.

“Reading through the entrants for this years event it is again an exciting line up with a lot of depth in a variety of sports. It should present for close racing for the title of Youth Elite Champion.”