New Zealand's greatest cycling race has a magical quality in that sense. It does not seem to matter which way you point your bike; there is always a breeze to conquer.
Otago cyclist Brad Evans learned that last year during his debut and has been bracing himself for those icy blasts ever since.
The 20-year-old finished 23rd in the overall classification and is hoping for a stage win and a top-three placing in the under-23 classification this year.
They are lofty goals. The Tour of Southland attracts quality riders but Evans has been in impressive form this season, particularly in the Benchmark Homes series.
He won the round in Nelson, placed third in Timaru and was eighth in Oxford, near Christchurch, last weekend, which was good enough to secure the overall series title in the under-23 classification.
It has given him a great base from which to launch his assault on the Tour of Southland starting tomorrow.
"I'm suited to most of the stages, except the Crown Range and Bluff stage," he said.
"There are a lot better hill climbers. I'm more of a side wind-cross wind sort of a guy who can get through those hard sections of the race.
"The wind is the No 1 enemy and being in the right position at the right time is important. It can have a big impact on the race."
Stage one to Lumsden ought to suit Evans, so do not be surprised if he makes a move early on. He was part of breakaway group on the same stage last year and most of the tour heavyweights will still be watching each other.
Calder Stewart's Hayden Roulston and PowerNet's Heath Blackgrove shape as the favourites.
Roulston is a four-time champion and led last year until he was forced out with illness.
Blackgrove will be competing in his 11th Tour and won it in 2009.
Both have very strong support teams. Jeremy Vennell and Patrick Bevin, of Bissell Pro Cycling, are also part of a powerful team.
"I don't think anyone can go past him [Roulston]. It is his biggest local race for the year and he takes it pretty seriously," Evans said.
"And it is an event which is really suited to him. He is a big powerful guy and the conditions suit him. In the wind, he is supremely strong."
Bevin, who was second in the overall classification last year, and Michael Vink, of Calder Stewart, will present Evans with his greatest challenge in the under-23 category.
"Bevin is a classy rider and he is aiming to win the whole thing. Vink has had a strong season but I imagine he will be working for Hayden Roulston a lot.
"It will depend how a lot of guys have recovered from their seasons overseas and whether they are tired or have peaked for the Tour of Southland.
"It is quite an interesting mix of guys who fresh and others who will be tired."
Evans competed at the junior track world championships for New Zealand in 2010 and splits his time between track and road. But the tour has been his focus this season.
The tour begins tomorrow with a 4.2km prologue around Queen's Park in Invercargill.
Evans will be writing a daily diary for the Otago Daily Times during the Tour of Southland.
Tour of Southland
The schedule
October 28: Prologue, Queen's Park, Invercargill, 4.2km
October 29: Stage one, Invercargill to Lumsden, 160km
October 30: Stage two, Invercargill to Bluff, 137km
October 31: Stage three, Riverton to Tuatapere, 48km; stage four, Tuatapere to Te Anau, 100km
November 1: Stage five, Te Anau to Crown Range, 179km
November 2: Stage six, Invercargill to Gore, 167km
November 3: Stage seven, time trial, Winton, 12.9km; stage eight, Winton to Invercargill
Three to watch
Hayden Roulston
The four-time champion is the strongest cyclist in the peloton and has a great team which includes Michael Vink and Marc Ryan. The Calder Stewart rider led the tour last year but had to pull out due to illness, and in 2009 he crashed out on the opening stage.
Barring another similar calamity, Roulston should claim title No 5 when New Zealand cycling's greatest prize is presented in Invercargill on October 3.
Patrick Bevin
Nabbed second place last year behind Josh Atkins and will be keen to climb the overall classifications by one place. The 22-year-old is based in Santa Rosa, where he rides for Bissell Pro Cycling team, and has recorded a string of impressive results this season, including a second placing in the under-23 category at the New Zealand road championships.
Heath Blackgrove
The 31-year-old will be competing in his 11th tour, his first appearance since his victory in 2009. He has been based in the United States for the past two years, racing for Elbowz Racing. The powerful rider has the support of a strong PowerNet team, which includes Tom Scully, Shane Archbold and Myron Simpson.
