Canterbury's Sam Horgan, riding for Subway Pro Cycling, claimed the yellow jersey and overall general classification win.
Team-mate Tayla Harrison won the under-19 men's title and was second overall. In a rare feat, category two was won by the lone woman in the grade, Reta Trotman. Fellow Otago rider Elyse Fraser won the open women's grade, while Lachie MacGregor won the under-17 boys grade.
In the 8km prologue, riders had to contend with high crosswinds on the flat course. A ban on specialised time trial bikes, aero bars or aero helmets levelled the playing field, as the event lived up to its reputation as the race of truth.
By the start of stage two, the wind was gale-force. The category one field was blown apart on the first lap of the 25km circuit, which included Berwick Hill.
By the third and final lap, the lead bunch - which included Horgan, Harrison and Otago's Brad Evans, Scott Thomas and Mark Spessot - had a massive lead on the rest of the 30-strong field.
Stage three saw five riders blown off the course and off their bikes by huge crosswinds. Several riders across the grades failed to finish but were allowed to continue the next day's racing with time penalties.
Stage four saw the continued dominance of the Subway team, with Horgan taking his third stage victory in a mass bunch sprint. The fifth and final stage brought Evans the win he had been chasing all weekend with an impressive sprint away from Harrison.
In category two, Trotman showed her class and consistency to go into the final stage in the yellow jersey.
In a mark of respect for her achievement, the Otago men in the field worked to protect her and the jersey in the final stage, not allowing her to take a lap on the front, and shutting down any attacks from others.
Fraser dominated the open women's race, winning every stage on day one and, despite a crash at the start of day two, still managed to win stage four and finish second in the final stage.
The under-17 boys raced with the category two bunch.
MacGregor showed his ability with one of the fastest times in the time trial, and held his own in other stages despite riding the restricted gearing of the grade.
Neil Sutherland convincingly won the category three race, with a lead of almost 2min from first-time tour rider Mark Kelly. Holly Edmondston (under-17 girls) and Hamish Beadle (under-15 boys) won other grades.
- Janice McLelland
