Wanaka triathlete Simone Maier (27) powered up the 7km Treble Cone access road in 49min 42sec on Saturday to claim her second Queen of the Hills title in Wanaka's uphill mountain bike series.
Maier also won the Queen of the Hills title on the Snow Farm 13km access road in August.
It was a close race to the Treble Cone lodge finish line between Maier and the eventual men's title winner, Gavin Mason, of Wanaka, who got there first with seconds to spare.
In the handicapped race Mason set the fastest time (48min 39sec), while Hamish Fraser, of Lake Hawea, was second-fastest in 49min 02sec.
Maier was third-fastest.
The race series has given Maier a final chance to test herself in a physically and mentally gruelling setting before tackling the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii, on October 10.
Maier won the women's 25-29 age group Ironman race in Taupo earlier this year to qualify for the world championships and she leaves for Honolulu this week.
She has focused on competing in Kona since watching German friends compete there last year.
"I went to watch . . . but ended up volunteering. It was amazing and I had this idea I want to be in there. It was my dream, anyway," Maier said on Saturday.
Training throughout the long Wanaka winter and battling injuries had been challenging and she was relieved it was over.
Originally from Germany, Maier has been living in Wanaka for two and a-half years and works at Soul Foods.
She will return to Wanaka after the world championships and is seeking New Zealand residency.
The third race in the inaugural King and Queen of the Hills uphill mountain bike series will be held on a high-country course, but the venue and date have not been announced.
