Underwood takes early lead in Tour of New Zealand

Dan Underwood began this year’s Tour of New Zealand where he left it last year, in the lead.
Riding the North Island legs last year Underwood won the Tour’s individual rider honours and this year is tackling the South Island course.

Underwood today’s 110 kilometre Bluff to Lumsden stage in two hours and 14 minutes, six minutes ahead of second placed individual Gary Lloyd. The leading South Island woman after the first stage is Jeanette White who completed the leg in two hours and thirty minutes, 39 minutes ahead of second placed Gillian Radcliff. 

Open team Pablos Wanaka were first to finish the South Island’s first day in one hour and fifty seven minutes, six minutes ahead of Corporate Team Smokin' Arrows. Defending team’s champion, Christchurch Boys High School were third, one minute and 30 seconds after the Smokin' Arrows.

Tim James is the early solo leader in the North Island, winning the first 103 kilometre stage from Cape Reinga to Awanui in three hours and eight minutes, 11 minutes ahead of second placed solo rider, Marty McDonnell, who is riding in the Masters (50-59) category.

Yvette Hill-Willis rode well to take the lead in the solo women’s category, winning the stage in three hours and eight minutes, the fifth fastest individual time overall. Megan Blank is second, lying 16 minutes behind Hill-Willis.

The Six Brothers team leads the Hikurangi North by 15 minutes in the North Island after completing the first day in four hours and two minutes. 

Tomorrow’s South Island 82 kilometre stage starts in Queenstown and in neutralised as it travels through to Arrowtown for the race start to Wanaka over the Crown Range.

The North Island’s 79 kilometre stage starts in Omapere and includes a ‘time out’ stop at the largest Kauri tree in New Zealand in Waipoua Forest before finishing in Daragville.

The Tour concludes on the Beehive Grounds in Wellington on Saturday the 27th of April with a criterium that will see North Island riders will race against South Island Course riders on a tight 600 metre circuit starting on the front steps of Parliament.