PowerNet, with defending champion Josh Burnett on the books and a target on their back, managed to bank their first stage win of the week when Taupo’s Kiaan Watts sprinted his way to victory on the Te Anau lakefront.
Watts’ second stage win in his seventh Southland tour helped him move into the overall lead, but his team were also made to work hard throughout the 148km stage from Riverton and lost key rider Ollie Jones after he crashed heavily and had to be taken to Southland Hospital.
Watts has been in good form this week with PowerNet finishing second in the team time trial before he finished third in the street race and second on the Gore stage.
He was part of a big breakaway group yesterday that did its best to stay away, and found his way to the front again with George Jackson after they caught leaders William Heffernan and Luke Burns after the Blackmount hillclimb.
"It was just chaotic right from the start, lots of people jumping, breaks going back," Watts said.
"I think it was a hard stage for everyone, no matter where you finished, so I’m glad I managed to finish it off."
The four-strong break had a 1min 40sec lead over the peloton as they turned with 20km to go at Manapouri.
While all four riders had different agendas for the stage finish, they were co-ordinated enough to stay away until the end.
"I didn’t want the break to win, to be honest," Watts said.
"I was really concerned about Luke Burns being in the front with us because he’s a big threat on GC for Josh.
"The team was concerned about keeping him close, so I just had to sit on and play the game a little bit. We are here to win the tour overall. The stage win is great, I’m stoked, but I’m also pleased we could keep GC close."
In many ways, the tour starts today for PowerNet with two-time winner Burnett getting the chance to test his outstanding climbing legs against the rest of the field on the exhausting 6km ascent of the Remarkables skifield access road.
Only 61sec separates the top 10 riders in the general classification, Burnett at 1min 1sec in ninth place.
Meanwhile, James Gardner continued a strong tour that he almost did not get to start.
The big Dunedin cyclist crashed heavily when he clipped a pedal in Saturday’s national criterium championships.
An X-ray later ruled out a broken shoulder and meant he was able to line up the next day with a sprained AC joint and a range of other war wounds.
He spent more than 100km riding through the pain in the breakaway on Monday and by the time he unclipped in Te Anau was leading in both the sprint ace and king of the mountain jerseys.
"I’m super stoked," Gardner said.
"It’s definitely unpredictable how all this plays out. These jerseys have the potential to change many times throughout the week so I’m just enjoying my time with them."
Australian rider Burns was rewarded for his efforts in the break with the most combative jersey, while his team-mate Glenn Haden retained the over-35 jersey and compatriot Heffernan is the leading under 23 rider.
Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project lead the teams classification.
Stage four of the rescheduled tour gets under way in Mossburn at 10.30am today. — Tour of Southland
Tour of Southland
Results/classification
• Stage 3: Kiaan Watts 3hr 21min 28sec, 1; George Jackson same time, 2; William Heffernan same time, 3; Luke Burns +5sec, 4; Marshall Erwood +43sec, 5.
• General classification: Watts 7hr 45min 36sec, 1; Jackson +9sec, 2; Heffernan +17sec, 3; Burns +29sec, 4; Thomas Sexton +51sec, 5.
