Riders Battle Strong Winds In Southland Tour

• Samuel Jenner claimed the leader's orange jersey after an intense day of riding.
• High-speed crosswinds saw the peloton challenged with 80kmh gusts on day two.
• Riders look ahead to Te Anau stage and Remarkables climb for key positioning.

Riders on day two of the Tour of Southland faced their toughest test in years as fierce crosswinds challenged the peloton, with Australian rider Samuel Jenner ultimately securing the tour leader’s orange jersey after a powerful sprint finish. The Central Benchmakers-Willbike cyclist returned to Lumsden a year after his previous win here, once again finding success in the demanding Southland conditions.

The day’s stage, stretching 166km from Invercargill to Lumsden, saw Jenner and Kiaan Watts of PowerNet among a breakaway group that managed to build a lead of seven minutes before the race was briefly neutralised due to loose gravel on Glenure Hill. The race resumed with an intense 20km push to the finish line, where Jenner emerged victorious in his quest to don the orange jersey, a feat he narrowly missed last year.

While many riders were focused on staying steady amidst high winds that at times pushed speeds to 80kmh, Jenner thrived in the challenging weather. “I wouldn’t say the hardest, but it was definitely tense at times. Once the break was established and the break went out, it wasn’t super exhausting. It was definitely the stage I’ve been looking for for the past couple of years,” said Jenner, pleased to finally have the opportunity to wear the orange jersey.

Watts capped the day with a perfectly timed sprint on Lumsden’s main street, edging out Declan Trezise and securing a strong showing for the PowerNet team, which now leads the team classification. Reflecting on the race’s early tension, Watts noted, “It was all on from the start and the split just got smaller and smaller until we reached the neutralisation… today was all about positioning.”

Looking to tomorrow, Jenner is anticipating another windy 148km stage from Riverton to Te Anau. Riders will have their sights set on the fourth stage’s defining 10km climb up the Remarkables access road. Jenner noted the impact of the climb, saying, “Remarkables is going to be such a crucial stage. I think a lot of people want to keep their powder dry until then.”

Riders like Josh Burnett, who secured the King of the Mountain jersey for Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project, and teammate Ben Oliver, recognised as Most Combative, were among the top performers on day two. Bailey O’Donnell (Holmes Solutions) leads the Sprint Ace classification, while Australian Declan Trezise (Transport Engineering Southland-Deep South) tops the under-23 category, and Southlander Luke Macpherson (Macaulay Ford-GoodTech) heads the over-35s.