Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling team battered and bruised after stage two of the Tour of Southland

The Subway-Avanti Pro Cycling team were battered and bruised after stage two Powernet Tour of Southland this afternoon.

The 81 kilometre stage that started in Invercargill and finished up the tough Bluff hill climb was marred by several crashes, one of which saw four of the six Subway - Avanti team hit the road.

Subway - Avanti team member and New Zealand Under 23 representative Michael Vink was the worst off and was left with tour ambulance staff but elected to get back on his bike and finished with a badly damaged bike and body.

Team Manager Hayden Godfrey said Vink’s effort was impressive.

“There is no way we expected him to finish but he was keen to make sure we had all six riders finish the stage,” he said.

Vink made it to the top of the very steep climb inside the stage cut off time with an impressive display of determination and strength and is hopeful of being on the start line tomorrow.

Official results are yet to be confirmed, but it's thought that stage two winner Jeremy Yates (Share the Road) has a 30 second lead over Hayden Roulston (Calder Stewart/Bike NZ) with Sam Horgan the best placed Subway – Avanti rider.

Tomorrows 165 kilometre stage takes the field from Invercargill and out through eastern and northern Southland before finishing in Gore.

Ends

Notes
• Stage starts at 10am and approx finish is 1.30pm.
• The Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team is New Zealand’s only UCI Continental team receiving UCI status in early 2009.
• http://www.youtube.com/user/SubwayAvanti  
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For more information please contact:

Hayden Godfrey
021 464482
www.subwaycycling.co.nz  

John McKenzie
enthuse ltd
021 384 730
03 384 7338