SUBWAY® Pro Cycling's Odlin moves up to second in Tour of Southland
SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Paul Odlin was narrowly beaten in a sprint finish in today’s Powernet Tour of Southland that saw the Christchurch based rider move up to second overall in the seven day tour.
After 160 kilometres of energy-sapping crosswinds Ascot Park Hotel’s Clinton Avery avenged the “one inch loss” he suffered on this stage last year winning in a time of four hours 25 minutes and 56 seconds.
The Rotorua rider was part of a six strong group that held off the chasing bunch to claim the win in Lumsden.
“It wasn’t an easy day, but was almost a relief when Pure Black went to the front with 30 kilometres to go and created a selection of riders,” Odlin said.
“It meant there were fewer wheels to fight for and it was easier to get to the front.”
George Bennett (Kia Motors) attacked with 25 kilometres to go and was joined by Odlin, Avery, Scott Lyttle (Pure Black), Andi Bajc (Southland Times) and Jeremy Vennell (Calder Stewart-Bike NZ).
“Everyone worked well together and Bennett in particular rode hard as he has real GC (general classification) aspirations.”
In the closing stages the riders jockeyed for positions with Bennett leading out over the last kilometre followed by Avery and Odlin. Avery kicked with 300 metres to go and held off Odlin to claim the stage by half a wheel.
Gordon McCauley (Barry Stewart Builders-GMC) drove an early breakaway group of nine riders that managed to rack up a lead of nearly eight minutes by the halfway mark of the 160 kilometre stage.
The peloton reeled them in with just over 30 kilometres remaining; before Bennett’s attack saw the six riders make their bid for stage glory.
Vennell took the tour leader’s Yellow jersey off his team mate, defending champion Hayden Roulston. Dunedin’s Joe Chapman (Creation Signs-L & M Group Racing) won all four hillclimbs to secure the Hydralink/Jesco King of the Mountains jersey.
Chris Macic (Share the Road) took the Harcourts Sprint Ace from McCauley, and Bennett, earned the Co-Operative Bank under-23 jersey.
Just 25 seconds separates the top 10 riders with holding a narrow two second buffer over SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Odlin.
In the team’s classification, Calder Stewart-Bike NZ has a 24 second advantage over Pure Black Racing with SUBWAY® Pro Cycling just three seconds further back in third.
The tough Bluff Hill climb stage looms tomorrow, and at 140 kilometres is longer than previous years.
Results from Stage One of the 2011 PowerNet Tour of Southland, 160km from Invercargill - Thornbury - Ohai - Mossburn - Lumsden
1. Clinton Avery (APH) 4h25m56s; 2. Paul Odlin (SUB) ST; 3. Scott Lyttle (PBR) ST; 4. Jeremy Vennell (CST) ST; 5. Andi Bajc (STH) ST; 6. George Bennett (KMT) at 02s; 7. Daniel Barry (PBR) at 22s; 8. Patrick Bevin (APH) at 22s; 9. Shane Archbold (PNT) at 22s; 10. Justin Kerr (STR) at 22s; 11. Brett Tivers (STR) at 22s; 12. Joseph Lewis (KMT) at 22s; 13. Tim Gudsell (PBR) at 22s; 14. Ryan Obst (RDS) at 22s; 15. Karl Murray (STR) at 22s; 16. Mike Olheiser (JPW) at 22s; 17. Peter Latham (SUB) at 22s; 18. Wade Mangham (APH) at 22s; 19. Matt Wheatcroft (MCP) at 22s; 20. James McCoy (HCL) at 22s; 21. Greg Taylor (UHM) at 22s; 22. Hayden Roulston (CST) at 22s; 23. Chris Macic (STR) at 22s; 24. Jeremy Yates (STR) at 22s; 25. Westley Gough (SUB) at 22s;
Overall Standings
1. Jeremy Vennell (CST) 4h30m35s; 2. Paul Odlin (SUB) at 02s; 3. Scott Lyttle (PBR) at 03s; 4. Clinton Avery (APH) at 16s; 5. Hayden Roulston (CST) at 21s; 6. Marc Ryan (CST) at 21s; 7. Andi Bajc (STH) at 23s; 8. George Bennett (KMT) at 24s; 9. Shane Archbold (PNT) at 25s; 10. Josh Atkins (PNT) at 25s; 11. Chris Macic (STR) at 28s; 12. Daniel Barry (PBR) at 29s; 13. Tim Gudsell (PBR) at 29s; 14. Louis Crosby (PBR) at 29s; 15. Glen Chadwick (PBR) at 29s; 16. Shem Rodger (PBR) at 29s; 17. Peter Latham (SUB) at 30s; 18. Westley Gough (SUB) at 30s; 19. Nick Lovegrove (SUB) at 30s; 20. Patrick Bevin (APH) at 33s; 21. Wade Mangham (APH) at 33s; 22. Brett Tivers (STR) at 34s; 23. Justin Kerr (STR) at 34s; 24. Karl Murray (STR) at 34s; 25. Jeremy Yates (STR) at 34s;
Teams Overall
1. Calder Stewart 13h32m26s; 2. Pure Black Racing at 24s; 3. Subway Pro Cycling at 27s; 4. PowerNet at 34s; 5. Ascot Park Hotel at 36s; 6. Share The Road at 01m01s; 7. Kia Motors at 01m11s; 8. H&J's Outdoor World-Avanti Plus at 01m13s; 9. Mico-Protrain Cycling Team at 01m22s; 10. Radio Sport at 08m01s;
Sprints
1. Chris Macic (STR) 24; 2. Gordon McCauley (BSB) 15; 3. Brad Evans (OCL) 12; 4. Clinton Avery (APH) 9; 5. Oliver Harding-Sheath (PTL) 6; 6. Myron Simpson (PNT) 5; 7. Aaron Strong (APH) 5; 8. Peter Latham (SUB) 5; 9. Mark Langlands (OWA) 4; 10. Joseph Lewis (KMT) 3;
King of Mountains
Joe Chapman (CSL) 24; 2. Tom Hubbard (HCL) 12; 3. Aaron Strong (APH) 10; 4. Chris Macic (STR) 2;