Torckler takes lead with stage victory

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Michael Torckler (Cardno) proved the strongest rider in the Tour of Wellington field on Thursday to eclipse a strong breakaway and be first up the mighty Admiral Hill. His stage winning performance also saw him take the yellow jersey in the second stage of the race.

The stage, arguably the toughest of the tour, began in Masterton and covered an undulating 110 kilometres before the ascent of Admiral Hill to the finish.

After rolling through town under neutral conditions, the flag was dropped and the race commenced with a series of early attacks; groups of 20 or 30 riders making moves, gaining a little time on the bunch before quickly being reeled in again.

It was a small but strong group that was the first to launch a successful breakaway. Clinton Avery (Cardno), Lachlan Norris and Joseph Lewis (Drapac Porsche), Heath Blackgrove (Team Solway), Mike Northey (Bici Vida), Michael Vink (Subway-Avanti) Mark Langlands (R+R) and Jay Thompson (Fly V Australia) riding clear of the peloton to establish a 55 second lead by the 40 kilometre mark.

New Zealand national champion Jack Bauer (Trust House Team), Wesley Gough (Team Solway) and Australian Mark Frendo (Shortis Cycle) worked hard to bridge to the group, successfully catching them on the first king of the mountain climb. Norris attacked on the last leg of the climb, with Thompson furiously chasing him. Thompson managed to pip Norris at the top to take the sprint.
The now eleven-strong lead group managed to push out to 1:30 over the chasing peloton.

However, 80 kilometres into the race the group began break up in the last few climbs before the final climb. Avery was the first to peel off the back, with Vink, Bauer, Northey and Frendo being dropped soon after.

Meanwhile, back in the peloton Michael Torckler (Cardno) had launched his own attack. The peloton let him go unchallenged to chase the leading group two minutes ahead.

Yellow jersey wearer Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche) kept a low profile the whole day sitting in the bunch

The penultimate climb, a warm up for Admiral Hill, saw the lead group drop more riders, which by now had been joined by Torckler.

At the base of Admiral Hill there was only five riders left in the lead group. It was Torckler and Norris were strongest up the hill, and it came down to a last mad effort between the two. Torckler took line honours five seconds ahead of Norris.

Jay Thompson (Fly V Australia) finished in third, 1:30 further back.

Torckler took the yellow jersey for the stage, with Norris now five seconds behind him on the general classification. Norris holds the King of the Mountains jersey following the second stage while South African Thompson retains the sprint classification leader’s jersey.

Tomorrow’s third stage is the longest of the tour and sees the race head on for a return journey from Masterton to Pahiatua and back