Cycling: McCauley wins a shortened Tour of Southland

The Tour of Southland came to an anticlimatic finish yesterday, with Glen Henderson winning the final two stages but complaining of a "sour taste" after the race was controversially halted on Friday.

Veteran Gordon McCauley predictably took the overall title as the Trek-Zookeepers rider held an unassailable lead after the race was stopped and shortened due to very strong wind.

About 17 minutes behind him was Henderson, previous leader Glen Mitchell, and Calder Stewart rider Jeremy Vennell, who had the yellow jersey until Blackmount Hill.

World-class track rider Henderson was pleased with his two stage wins but said it didn't take away the sour taste of yesterday's events, which caused several cyclists to refuse to ride hard, unhappy with the decisions of organisers.

"[Friday] was a shame. I had a real chance of winning and went from being in an attacking position to not even bothering," Henderson said, adding that he would definitely be back next year as the race was virtually his home tour.

He said he was now focusing on the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March.

McCauley said he was "fizzing" after taking the title for the second time, the first being in 1996.

"I came down with this objective. I had a point to prove to beat the best riders in New Zealand and I did," he said.

McCauley is now aiming for the Oceania championships in three weeks and a first win there.

Hayden Godfrey won the sprint ace title, with Anthony Chapman taking out King of the Mountain. Logan Hutchings was top under-23 rider, while the top team was Trek-Zookeepers.

Tour director Bruce Ross said the decision to restart the race closer to Te Anau yesterday was fair as safety was paramount.

The riders were all briefed by police and tour management before the stage started that it could be shortened if the wind got too bad. "I was a little disappointed at the attitudes of a small number of riders," Ross said.

He said the racing showed everyone had moved on, adding that several riders had apologised for their actions.

- NZPA