The 44th Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day Elite race is underway after a 6:00am start from Kumara Beach, with athletes greeted by greeted by clear skies after yesterday’s weather bomb forced organisers to reroute the coure. 

Pre-race favourite Hamish Elliot (Wanaka) has made an emphatic statement in the men’s race, producing a blistering first cycle stage with an unconfirmed time of 1:35:15 — one of the fastest times ever recorded.

Carrying that momentum into the mountain run, Elliot currently leads by approximately 10 minutes over the top, putting clear daylight between himself and his closest rivals.

Max Meffan (Nelson) crossed Goat Pass in second position and remains firmly in contention, while Dean Steward is running strongly in a close third as the leading trio descend toward the next transition.

In the women’s race, leaders Hannah Lund and Rebecca Kingsford are going stride for stride at the front, setting up an exciting head-to-head battle through the mountain stage. Just behind them, Thea Taylor holds third and remains well within striking distance.

Defending champion Deborah Lynch showed visible signs of fatigue coming off the cycle and is currently trailing the leaders by approximately eight minutes. With significant racing still to unfold, the women’s contest remains wide open.

The Longest Day Elite race is back on the original Plan A course today after organisers previously made the call to reroute athletes over the Otira Viaduct instead of Goat Pass following severe downpours that caused rivers to flood.

Race Director Glen Currie said the decision reflects improved conditions and athlete resilience.

“The safety of our competitors is our absolute priority, and I’m incredibly proud of how they adapted to some pretty wild conditions. If the forecast holds, tomorrow over Goat Pass will be classic Coast to Coast — challenging, spectacular and a real chance for the race to come alive.”



With record-setting pace at the front of the men’s field and the women’s leaders locked together stride for stride, the 2026 Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day Elite is shaping into a classic edition of New Zealand’s premier multisport race.