Mike Phillips appears to have won his race to the start line for Saturday's Ironman New Zealand in Taupo

The defending champion upset the field last year with a record-breaking marathon to take his maiden title.

However his build-up over summer has been hindered by a lower back injury which has limited his pounding of the roads.



USA's defending champion and race record holder Jocelyn McCauley is also back, chasing a third New Zealand title.