Southland Sport
- Daniel Whitehouse claimed the Bluff Hill stage in the SBS Bank Tour of Southland.
- Josh Burnett extended his lead despite challenges, including a crash involving his teammate.
- Weather conditions are set to worsen for the next stage from Invercargill to Gore.
Daniel Whitehouse (Quality Foods Southland) seized the spotlight on the Bluff Hill stage of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland, claiming an iconic victory that every Kiwi cyclist aspires to add to their career highlights.
“This was the day that I earmarked from the start - Bluff is Southland and Southland is Bluff,” Whitehouse remarked. The Christchurch rider, who impressed on the Remarkables climb earlier in the week, showcased grit and determination throughout the 154km stage from Invercargill to Bluff. His inspiration came from Lyttleton band The Eastern’s song Hope and Wire, which he paid homage to by inscribing the words on his hands.
“That was what I was thinking about during the stage. I really wanted this,” he said.
Whitehouse edged out William Heffernan (IBuilt) and local favourite Josh Burnett (Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project) in the race’s final moments on Motupōhue. Despite narrowly missing the stage win, Burnett solidified his overall lead by extending his advantage in the general classification to 1min 41sec. He also retained the King of the Mountain jersey and contributed to his team’s strong standing in the team classification.
Burnett faced challenges, including a crash that took down his teammate Marshall Erwood and several others early in the stage. However, he remained optimistic: “Obviously I would have loved to win the stage... but I can’t be too unhappy after the big crash at the start and things did get out of control for a while.”
The day’s efforts also saw standout performances from Declan Trezise (Transport Engineering Southland-Deep South), who extended his under 23 classification lead, and Bailey O’Donnell, who increased his Sprint Ace category lead. Luke Macpherson continued his tenacious hold on the over 35 Silver jersey.
Looking ahead, Friday’s 151km stage from Invercargill to Gore promises a significant shift in conditions, with steady and heavy rain expected. Burnett, however, remains unfazed: “Wet or dry, it doesn’t really matter... It’s nothing we aren’t used to.