I

ndonesia'€™s most established triathlete has vowed to finish better than last year as the MetaMan Bintan triathlon competition is set to commence its third year at the tourism resort island  on Sunday.

The competition, which features three race divisions; MetaMan Full, MetaMan Half and MetaMan Blitz, seems to be growing in global popularity, with the number of participants increasing from 300 athletes last year to some 400 this year.

Twenty of the participants are professional triathletes, who will take part in the MetaMan Full race.

Indonesian swimming Olympian Andy, who is taking part in the MetaMan Half, is looking to build on his fifth position last year.

'€œI have been preparing better than last year when I was injured during training,'€ he said during a media conference at the Nirwana Garden Hotel.

He declined to name specific individuals as his main rivals, saying that he was concerned only with his own performance.

While admitting to inferior running and biking, he pointed to stalled transitions as pitfalls to his languished position last year.

Coming out from the water in first position, Andy later found himself trailing in fifth place on the bike and somehow stuttered to cling on to the position in running down to the finish line.

'€œI was late during the transition from water to the bike,'€ he said.He looked forward to the event with new power in biking and running.

'€œI have been focusing on my riding and running for this year'€™s competition,'€ he added. '€œBut it does not mean I'€™ve forgotten to step up my swimming.'€

The MetaMan Half comprises a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-km ride and 21.1-km run, compared to the Full'€™s 3.8 km, 180 km and 42.2 km, and the Blitz'€™s 1.2 km, 55 km and 7 km.

Andy is one of 35 Indonesians in the competition.

Foreign participants, particularly those from Europe and Australia, find the hot local climate to be an energy-sapping barrier, but they say they know how to tackle it.

'€œIn Sydney, it is in the middle of winter. I trained by riding indoors,'€ said Rebecca Horschke, last year'€™s women'€™s winner in the MetaMan Full.

Men'€™s winner in the same category Courtney Ogden of Australia said he had carried out a similar training workout in the hopes that he could ease the climate hazard.

'€œThe biggest challenge is the climate,'€ he said.

Race director Matthe Vijverberg hailed the encouraging development of the event, which he attributed to the support from the local government and people.

'€œOnly in the third year, but it'€™s one of most prestigious events in the region with world-class athletes of 35 nationalities,'€ he said.

'€œI'€™m pleased to see more Indonesians in the event with the beautiful roads, environment and strong support from the authorities,'€ he added.

He said Bintan'€™s accessibility from Singapore had also contributed to the thriving development of the event and hoped that more international participants would join the next races.