Team Mauna Lani Evolta Robot cheerleaders. (Photo courtesy of Mauna Lani Bay Hotel)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

The bike robot is on its way back from Hawi, and has completed more than 85 miles of the 112-mile bike leg of the Ironman triathlon course.

About 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, the robot and support crew passed the Waikoloa junction on Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

And just like the real Ironman, the littlest contestant got a boost late Wednesday when staff from the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel set up an aide station along the highway.

The aide station was complete with tent, energy drinks and cheerleaders.

Among Tweets posted Wednesday:

‘Some customer at a gas service station cheered me on! Thanx!’

‘People in Hawaii who drive by me are taking pictures out of their car windows. So flattering.’

The bike robot is scheduled to hand over the three AA Panasonic rechargeable batteries to the running robot sometime on Thursday.

That robot will then take off on the 26.2-mile marathon run and is projected to make his way to the famed start / finish line at Kailua Pier later in the day on Sunday.

The Evolta Robots are taking on one of the world’s toughest Ironman courses this week, following more than 1,900 triathletes who competed earlier this month at the Ironman World Championship.

Built by Tomotaka Takahashi, the trio of robots are specifically designed to tackle each of the three triathlon disciplines. The swimmer robot finished the 2.4-mile ocean swim about 90 minutes ahead of schedule Sunday evening.

Follow the robots’ progress and check out the live streaming video at: http://panasonic.jp/charge/evolta/challenge/2011_e/index.html

Follow the robot on Twitter: @EVOLTA_Robot

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