Cycling: Mitchell's 11th keeps jersey

Glen Mitchell and his Southland Times team tightened their hold on the Tour of Southland yesterday, but the Calder Stewart outfit, particularly Jeremy Vennell, remained their biggest threat.

Aaron Strong, of Team MG XPower, blitzed the field to win the 132.8km fifth stage from Lumsden to the top of the Crown Range near Arrowtown, winning in a time of three hours 21 minutes 20 seconds.

He was 53s ahead of Logan Hutchings, of Rabobank, who regained the under-23 jersey.

Mitchell finished 11th, but kept a hold on the yellow jersey with a 16s lead on Vennell.

Greg Henderson is in third place, 19s back.

Strong and under-23 rider Darren Lapthorne broke away from the pack at the bottom of the Crown Range and Strong was too powerful to be reined back by the chasing riders.

After the peloton swallowed up a group of eight breakaway riders just out of Lumsden, the cyclists rode as a bunch until the final 20km.

First-day tour leader Karl Menzies had a strong stage, finishing fifth and making up ground for his Calder Stewart team.

Mitchell said he was definitely happy with the way his team were riding to keep Henderson and himself in contention.

"It means we have two options if something in the next three days falls apart," he said.

"It's looking pretty comfortable. The Crown Range is one of the key stages in the tour and we're in a good position.

"I think today showed we have the strength. Greg and I have a lot of confidence. We're out to win the tour, both myself and Greg.

"Obviously I would like it to be myself but we'll see how it plays out."

Although disappointed at not taking the stage, Mitchell said Strong had put in a huge effort and he had wanted to stay with his team as John Lieswyn and Peter Latham had worked hard at the front all day.

"I was definitely hoping for a stage win but it's how it plays out on the road. The next best thing is holding on to the yellow jersey and making up a little bit of time on the other guys."

Mitchell described Vennell as the biggest threat but he was not writing off Menzies, Robin Reid or a couple of others.

Creation Signs team rider Joseph Cooper took over the king of the mountain jersey, but Lieswyn is only four points behind him on 16 points.

Hayden Godfrey remains on top of the sprint points table going into today's two stages - a 15km individual time trial from Balfour to Riversdale and then the 127km haul from Riversdale to Invercargill.

- NZPA