After a traditional touch of the Tasman Sea the starter gun goes. The target? Making it to the Pacific Ocean.
At 77, John Livingstone's the oldest competitor in the field. He's 61 years older than the youngest, a group of school kids from Mt Hutt College.
"I'd never really thought about it, but then you know someone said: 'We've got a school team and we need a cyclist, and do you want to go?' And I got into it," Mr Livingstone said.
The gnarly event is not for the faint hearted -- Livingstone's doing it with his son and believes it's an event anyone can do.
"Oh it was actually easier [than expected]," he said. "I thought there might be a few tough turns, sharp corners, but there weren't.
"Just stick it to them and gun it, and that's what I did!"
The same goes at the other end of the age spectrum -- five-time winner and race director Richard Ussher says the team options make the event far more attainable.
"You've got the one-day race which is so brutal, so tough, and is really quite elitist, and then you get this two-day and of course it's a big challenge but with the options now and the team options, it is really more achievable," Mr Ussher explained.
After a gruelling mountain run these two day competitors will take a well-earned break, before taking on the kayak leg and then cycling into the New Brighton finish tomorrow.
For the competitors it'll be the body and mind taking a hammering in what's expected to be one of the most hotly contested races in years.
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