Cycling: Rare win in sight by a foreigner

If American cyclist John Lieswyn can hold his shape over the final two stages today, he will become only the second overseas rider to take the Tour of Southland title since the event began in 1956.

The Winton's Middle Pub rider kept his 30s advantage over Southland Times' Scott Guyton intact after yesterday's 156km stage from Winton to Te Anau, but will face stern challenges from Calder Stewart's Chris Horner and the Zookeepers' pairing of Gordon McCauley and Heath Blackgrove today.

McCauley was the big mover yesterday.

New Zealand's strongest rider, McCauley powered over the Blackmount grunt and through withering crosswinds for a sprint win up Te Anau's main street.

From a 3m 19s deficit, McCauley now sits in fourth place, only 1m 14s behind Lieswyn.

"Strength-wise I think I can say I'm the strongest in the race, but bike racing isn't about who is the strongest, it's about using the best tactics and having the best team-mates," Lieswyn said after the stage finish.

The highly-rated United States rider has changed his attitude dramatically since patting himself on the back after his opening-stage win on Monday.

That win came after he broke a rib in a mountainbiking accident three weeks ago, he said.

"I feel good, I feel strong, there's only two stages left and if they both finished at the top of mountains I'd say the tour was mine. But seeing as how this race is not decided on mountains but in the wind it's going to be tough to hold it for two stages."

Lieswyn has an excellent crew protecting him, including eight-time winner Brian Fowler and sprint ace Hayden Godfrey.

That's his big advantage heading into today's short stages from Te Anau to Lumsden and Winton to Invercargill by way of Browns and Myross Bush.

The smaller distances mean it will take a special ride or disastrous mechanical failure to push him out of contention.

Godfrey extended his lead in the sprint ace jersey yesterday and should now win the green jumper, while Rabobank's Tom Leaper cannot be headed in the King of the Mountain classification.

The Zookeepers team, who have made friends by providing free coffee on tour, should take out the teams classification with a 3m 57s lead over Southland Times.

Zookeepers' Blackgrove can win the under-23 jersey he now holds, especially as his only competition comes from team-mate Jeremy Yates, a former winner.

- NZPA