Cycling: Easy victory for competitors who pulled together

Polished teamwork by the Southland Times riders took American John Lieswyn to his second Tour of Southland cycling race title over the weekend, a factor that he was quick to recognise.

The team - whose roster was completed by defending champion Scott Guyton, 2000 champion Glen Mitchell, world scratch race champion Greg Henderson and Tim Gudsell, of Te Awamutu - began the 788km tour on Monday as the firm favourites to retain both the individual and teams titles.

They duly delivered, securing the top three places on the general classification podium.

Lieswyn clocked 20 hours 46 minutes 43 seconds to win the title while Mitchell was second, 17 seconds back, and Guyton third.

The team did it with an ease that belied the amount of work all five put in, including Lieswyn, who took hold of the yellow jersey on the second day and never relinquished it.

It was his second Tour of Southland win in three attempts, the first coming in 2002 with the Winton Middle Pub team.

The tour has certainly agreed with the American, 36, who is talking about moving to New Zealand to live.

Lieswyn confirmed he planned to be back for next year's tour and he will surely be welcomed by the team because, despite being leader, he never shirked when he was needed to chase down attacks or help a teammate to a stage win.

"It wasn't Yank versus New Zealanders or something like that," Lieswyn said.

"I have been a friend of Glen's for a long time and, like any friendship, it has its ups and downs, but this week was a test of that, for sure.

"But I think our riding in the last three days showed we were willing to sacrifice for each other to try and get the stage wins.

"The way we rode showed that we were friends and team-mates above all else."

To be the only foreign rider to win twice - or even to once - was an honour.

"I don't feel like it was my win - I feel like it was the team's win. My name will be on the record books but I feel like it is Glen Mitchell's win."

Mitchell said it had been an unbelievable week.

"To come to this race with what you know is a strong team, you hope you don't do anything wrong.

"The way things happened, being first, second and third - you can't just ask for more than that."

The main challenge was expected to come from arch rivals Zookeepers Cafe.

The team was led by Hayden Roulston, who has signed for Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team next year, 1996 winner Gordon McCauley and Heath Blackgrove.

But the Zookeepers' plans were sorely damaged when Blackgrove suffered mechanical problems and a puncture on the second day, losing about 15 minutes on the field.

The Zookeepers were forced early into the role of spoilers for leaders' plans of sweeping the stage wins.

Roulston won the third stage and McCauley won a couple, leading from start to finish in one, and the king of the mountain category.

The team ended up sixth, about 45min behind the leaders.

McCauley, 32, who is semi-retired from cycling and is toying with the idea of taking up triathlons, wondered what he could have achieved had he been fully fit.

"Who knows, if I come back next year fully fit, I might give the yellow jersey a nudge," the 10-time tour veteran said.


- NZPA