With less than a month until race day, Challenge Shepparton has confirmed a top Australian pro field lining up alongside the age groupers on 13 March.

Women’s defending champion, Ellie Salthouse returns, along with Grace Thek and Renée Kiley, but Amelia Watkinson (NZL) and Lotte Wilms (NED) will also have their eyes on the top spot. In the men, last year’s winner Max Neumann is unable to return from Europe to defend his title which leaves the podium wide open for a field that includes Tim Reed, Tim van Berkel, Matt Burton and Steve McKenna, all vying for a share of the $20k prize purse.

The Challenge Shepparton swim takes place in Victoria Park Lake, considered one of the best open swim courses in Australia. Following the single-lap swim, the fast, flat bike course is two 45km laps through Shepparton’s iconic rural landscapes. The run course consists of three laps of lake, river and bush trails through the river gum forest and alongside tranquil river flats with the finish, complete with legendary Shepparton crowds, on the banks of Victoria Park Lake in the centre of town. The Challenge Shepparton course is completely flat, and is renowned as the perfect race for those looking for a personal records!

In addition to the main middle distance event, Challenge Shepparton also features Olympic and Sprint distance races, as well as a Kids’ Tri plus a Fun Run with distances between 5km and 21km. For further information visit challengeshepparton.com.au