American Meredith Kessler is holding onto a solid lead in the women's race, and has past halfway on the run. She was 4:38 up on Great Britain's Lucy Gossage after 21.3km on the run. Laura Siddal (Great Britain) is back in third.
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2pm: It looks to be a two-horse battle in the men's race heading into the final lap of the run (14km left). Ironman NZ legend Cameron Brown was shoulder to shoulder with fellow Kiwi Callum Millward going into the last lap. They had a big lead on the rest of the field. Can Brown claim his 12th title? We will find out within the next hour.
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12.45pm: Leader off the bike Cyril Viennot (France) has cramped early in the run making way for new leaders. Guess who? Eleven time winner Cameron Brown is out in front next to fellow Kiwi Callum Millward. Two more Kiwis Terenzo Bozzone and Mark Bowstead are just over a minute back after the 10km mark.
Four-time defending champion Meredith Kessler (US) is still in the lead in the women's race but has had her lead cut down. Heading into the final leg, a 42km marathon run, she is just 2m 20s ahead of Lucy Gossage (Great Britain). Laura Siddal (Great Britain) was four minutes behind Kessler in third.
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12.05pm: We have a cracking race on our hands here. The leading men are through transition and have just started the marathon (42km run) in absolutely scorching afternoon heat.
Frenchman Cyril Viennot produced a great bike to lead by two minutes at the start of the run. Kiwi trio Callum Millward, Terenzo Bozzone and Cameron Brown all left transition at the same time two minutes behind Viennot. Another four or five elites were close behind, setting up a great final leg to the finish.
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11am: Frenchman Cyril Viennot has made a move and now leads the men's race by two minutes, three quarters of the way through the bike leg (138km mark). Legend of the event Cameron Brown is leading the chasing group, of seven riders, which also includes fellow Kiwis Callum Millward, Terenzo Bozzone, and Mark Bowstead.
American Meredith Kessler's lead is building, she is now 6m 13s ahead of her nearest chasers after the 120km mark on the bike. Great Britain pair Lucy Gossage and Laura Siddal are behind her. Kiwi Gina Crawford has slipped back to seventh now.
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9.50am: The leading group of about nine men have just passed the halfway stage of the bike (90km), getting plenty of applause as they rode through the centre of Taupo township. They are now on their way back out to Reporoa for the second lap of the bike.
Kiwis Mark Bowstead, Callum Millward, and Terenzo Bozzone made up the front three. Ironman NZ legend Cameron Brown was hot on their heels in the front pack.
Defending women's champion Meredith Kessler (US) has a big lead at the halfway stage of the bike, 4m 50s ahead of second placed Lauren Brandon (US). Kiwi Gina Crawford has slipped back to fourth, with Aussie Carrie Lester moving up to third about eight minutes back from Kessler.
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8.45am: Front riders have just past the Reporoa turnaround, which is one quarter of the way through the bike (45km mark).
Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone was leading with fellow Kiwi Dylan McNeice and Aussie Paul Matthews right behind him. Eleven-time winner Cameron Brown was in a big chasing pack about two minutes back.
Four-time defending champion Meredith Kessler was the first woman to Reporoa. Fellow American Lauren Brandon has slipped back to second only 40 seconds back, with Kiwi Gina Crawford in third 5m 30s back from Kessler.
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7.50am: Elites are out of the water after the 3.8km swim. American Lauren Brandon was first out in the women's race (49m 48s), while Kiwi Dylan McNeice was first in the men's race following the swim (48.56).
Four-time defending champion Meredith Kessler (US) was close behind Brandon in second out of the water (52.02) in the women's race with Kiwi Gina Crawford (54.59) back in third.
Australian Paul Matthews was second out of the water in the men's race (49.50) with Kiwi star Terenzo Bozzone in third (50.04).
Beautiful morning here in Taupo, water was flat as a pancake, and no wind as of yet on the bike course.
