Cycling: Henderson loses ground

Greg Henderson. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand cyclist Greg Henderson has slipped to fourth place overall in the Tour of Britain.

Henderson, who led on general classification after winning the second stage, was 11th in today's 171km fourth stage from Minehead to Teignmouth in Devon.

The Team Sky rider was outshone by another New Zealander, Jack Bauer, riding for Endura Racing, who finished fourth, five seconds behind the winner, Dutchman Wout Poels, after a stage containing three category one climbs.

Poels completed the journey in a time of four hours 30 minutes 35 seconds, with Henderson 15 minutes back.

That left him fourth overall at the halfway stage of the tour, 1min 36sec behind Switzerland's Michael Albasini.

Henderson, who is to ride for New Zealand along with Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston at the world road championship in Melbourne on October 3, remains just 6sec behind the second-placed Richie Porte, of Australia.

Bauer, the reigning New Zealand road champion, improved from 22nd to 13th on general classification, 12min 23sec behind the leader.

- NZPA