Top junior cycling talent from across New Zealand competed in the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland over the weekend, with a revamped course challenging riders with six stages spread over three days.

Rather than be based mostly in and around Invercargill, the route took riders to different parts of Southland, with day one based out of Wyndham for two tough road race stages, and day two out of Bluff, with a kermesse along the foreshore, before a hill climb time trial up the fearsome slopes of Bluff Hill.

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On the final day of racing the weather turned sour, with riders starting the day with a very wet inner city criterium on Sunday morning. There were some concerns that surface flooding around the region would have an adverse effect on the afternoon’s road race stage at Grove Bush, but the disruption to the event was minimal.

The cold and rain did make the final stage very challenging for the riders, and that, coupled with some hard racing, caused the leader’s yellow jersey to change hands in some of the divisions.

The U15 girls group race through the rain in Invercargill. Photo: Cycling Southland

In the under 13 girls race it was all about Renee Harrison, as she won five of the six stages, with the exception of the Bluff Hill time trial, which was taken out by Southland’s Poppy McIvor. Harrison took out the title, ahead of McIvor in second, with Sophie Best in third. The sprint jersey went to Alexis Manuel, with Harrison also taking the Queen on the Mountain jersey.

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In the U13 boys race, Flynn Turnbull led the race from start to finish after a strong performance on the opening stage gave him the race lead, with Conor Toomey in second, and Austin Tunnicliffe in third. Tunnicliffe took the sprint jersey, while Turnbull also claimed the King of the Mountain jersey.

Mitchel Fitzsimons takes a stage win in Invercargill. Photo: Cycling Southland

In the Under 15 girls division, Kirsty Watts led the race from start to finish, taking four stage wins along the way. Millie Donald took second, with Alice Barnes in third. Watts also took out the Queen of the Mountain and sprint jerseys to make it a clean sweep of the jerseys in her division.

Noah Hollamby claimed the U15 boys division, leading from start to finish and taking four stages along the way, with Carter Guichard taking second, and Magnus Jamieson third. Hollamby also took out the sprint competition, while Guichard took the King of the Mountains jersey.

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Navarh Brotherstone battles up the slopes of Bluff Hill in the yellow jersey. Photo: Cycling Southland

Arabella Tuck put in a dominant performance in the U17 women division, winning five of the six stages and leading the race from start to finish. Amye Kellow took second overall, with Jaz McLeod third. The sprint jersey went to Muireann Green, with Tuck taking the Queen of the Mountain title.

The under 17 men division saw the yellow jersey change hands multiple times, with Marshall Erwood taking the jersey after the first stage, followed by James Gardiner, who wore it for two stages before it moved onto the shoulders of Jaxson Whyte, who managed to hold onto it until the end of the race to take out the title, ahead of Oliver Watson-Palmer in second and Elliot Robertson in third. The sprint jersey went to Watson-Palmer, who also took out the King of the Mountain title.

Henrietta Christie took out three stages on her way to taking the U19 women division, leading the race from start to finish, with Charlotte Spurway taking second, and Rhylee Akeroyd third. The sprint classification went to Jenna Borthwick, who also took two stage wins, with Christie taking the Queen on the Mountain title.

The yellow jersey was passed from rider to rider in the Under 19 men division, with Hunter Gough claiming it after the first stage, only to lose it to Navarh Brotherston after the second stage.

Brotherston wore the jersey for two stages before it passed to Jack Drage following the Stage 4 hill climb, with Drage holding a one second advantage over Brotherston. Drage held the jersey going into the final stage, but there was significant drama as he succumbed to the cold conditions and had to abandon the race, with Brotherstone reclaiming the yellow jersey and taking the title, ahead of Hunter Gough in second, and Guy Yarrell in third. Mitchel Fitzsimons took the sprint jersey, with Brotherston claiming the King of the Mountain jersey.

Junior Tour of Southland Wrap Up

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