Organisers claim they have attracted the most competitive field so far for next month's expedition-length adventure race, GODZone, being held in and around Lake Wanaka.
The field is led by three time defending champions and current world champions the New Zealand team Seagate led by Nathan Fa'avae.
But they face a strong international line-up that, for the first time racing in New Zealand, includes team Vidaraid out of Spain and Brazil which is ranked number one in the world.
GODZone race director Warren Bates said in a statement that Vidaraid was highly competitive, and that competitiveness was heightened when the teams recently raced each other at the world championships in Ecuador which Seagate won.
More than 200 competitors representing 55 national and international teams are competing, the fourth time the race has been staged in New Zealand.
It will run from February 28 to March 7, during which teams will race non-stop on a 540km course kept secret from the athletes until a few hours before the start.
Mr Bates said the first teams should finish in three to four days.
Teams have entered from Japan, Australia, South Africa and Britain, with a large number of New Zealand teams also lining up.
