They pushed, they pulled, they pedalled.
Using bikes, trikes and zimmer frames, wheelchairs, wheelie bins and wheelbarrows (and one bowling bag on wheels), competitors in yesterday's inaugural Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village nominated time trial put on a ''fantastic display of fitness and athleticism'', event organiser Geoff Williamson (71) said.
While there were a ''few defections'' ahead of the race through the streets of the Wanaka retirement village, 19 residents - aged mostly in their 70s and 80s - assembled at the start line.
During a race briefing, Mr Williamson said there was to be no swearing, no road rage and all usual road rules would apply.
Planned ''random drug testing'' was dropped after one competitor suggested there would be no starters left.
''Anybody that doesn't take drugs may be disqualified and that would be an even field,'' Mr Williamson advised instead.
An adapted Olympic athletes' oath was read by tights-clad cyclist John Barton (85), before resident bagpiper Iain Fletcher led a parade of athletes.
''Good pushing and we hope to see you back,'' Mr Williamson called over the loud speaker as one of the first-time trialists, Norman Smith, set off on his zimmer frame.
An aid station 20m from the start line offered cool drinks, bananas and water spray to the athletes, while a ''big hill climb, about a 3ft elevation'' greeted them on the home straight.
''Take my pulse?'' a beaming Lockie Easton (89) asked the officials as he crossed the finish line on his three-wheeler push bike.
Entrants had each nominated a time in which they expected to complete the course.
Seventy-four-year-old cyclist Graeme Walker had the closest guess to his actual race time and was declared the winner.
Mr Walker, who later described his race as ''painful'', was awarded a gold medal, plastic flowers, Otago A&P Society champion sash and some anti-chafe cream for future bike races.
In true Tour de France fashion, he was also presented with a ''yellow jersey'', but asked by Mr Williamson to ignore the Naenae Bowling Club emblem on its front.
Mr Easton, meanwhile, was thankful to enter the ''recovery phase'', where he and other athletes would refuel with ''fluids and cake''.
