With the next generation of elite competitors all out to enhance their growing reputation, the race for the women’s title set off at a cracking pace from the outset, with Deborah Lynch, Rebecca Kingsford and Fiona Dowling setting a scorching pace up front. But it proved to be the experienced head and game-time nous of Maier that won through at the business end.
"Today was a day that I knew it was going to be a mind game rather than strength. Maybe a bit of both," Maier said, adding that she had needed to be clever and bide her time.
"It really played out that I had to be patient, patient, patient. I knew Deborah and Rebecca would put the hammer down from the start."
With Lynch, Kingsford and Dowling putting the heat on up front, the experience of Maier began to shine through on the 67km river stage, on which she hauled the trio into then turned the heat on them, knowing that if they were good enough they would come back at her.
"I’m just so stoked I had such a good paddle. Which showed that I have improved my paddling."
But despite Maier building up a handy lead on the river stage, she was fully aware with a 70km bike ride left the race was not over until she crossed the line.
"You just need a flat tyre or something, and you think ‘oh God it’s not over yet’. All you can do is just keep going."
Maier said that after a injury interrupted build-up, the victory, her fourth in the Longest Day, meant so much to her.
"I owe a lot to so many people who have been looking after me on this journey, who all help keep me in one piece to get to the start."
He focus now will be to take a break and spend some time with friends and family.
Maier joins a select group of women to have won four or more titles. The others being Kathy Lynch, who won five between 1991 and 1995, and Jill Westenra who won four straight between 2000 and 2003.
"It’s so unreal. I don’t know how I can put an end to this. It’s very tempting to go for number five. But I need a few months to digest it all and assess the situation," she said.
With three-time champion Elina Ussher contesting her 18th title race on Saturday, Maier was quick to discount any longevity in the game.
"I don’t know. I think my bank account will decide that. And probably my partner [Marcel Hagnauer] as well."
The future of women in the sport looked exciting with some great young talent coming through with the likes of Kingsford and Lynch all making their mark, Maier said.
"I’m just so stoked that I still had enough in the tank to show them again. I can’t wait to watch them in the future," she said.
Dowling, who was contesting her eighth Longest Day, said she felt quite strong in the first half but weaker in the second, which was the opposite to how her racing usually unfolds.
"I just did the best I could," she said, adding that the racing was tight and competitive over the first half particularly.
"Simone had a really good paddle and I just couldn’t make any ground."
But like Maier, Dowling will take time with her feet up for the next couple of months before making any decisions as to her future in the sport.
"My focus will be on work, a couple of adventures and a bit of social time."
Maier’s time for the 243km multisport journey was 13hr 11min 18sec, with Dowling clocking 13hr 25min 19sec for second and Rebecca Kingsford third in 13hr 37min 1sec.
The race for the two-day individual women’s title gave witness to an epic battle and a blanket finish between Otago medical school graduates Estele Arundell and Rebecca Firth, with Arundell turning the tables on Firth’s day-one success to win in 13hr 33min 12sec, with Firth second in 13hr 33min 27sec, and Dunedin’s Mary Gray a close third in 13hr 34min 1sec.
By Wayne Parsons
