KEY POINTS:
Cycling star Hayden Roulston is back in the saddle and says he is going all right.
Roulston, 25, crashed during a training ride just over a fortnight ago, forcing him to miss the national championships and the Tour Down Under in Australia. He withdrew from both events after suffering severe bruising and lacerations on the right side of his body and hand.
Yesterday, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist was in action with his Trek-Zookeepers Cafe team in the first stage of the Wellington Classic, for which he is the defending champion.
Roulston raced with two fingers on his right hand well strapped and said although it had been a hard race his hand had not bothered him.
"A race like that is always hard whether you are in top form or whether you are here just trying to finish it ... my hand never bothered me.
"I'm happy with where I'm at for my first race [back]. Time will tell [if I will last the whole race]."
Team manager Ron Cheatley was delighted by the effort on the first day in which they pulled out to a 19s lead in winning the 7km team time trial.
"It was a bit of a mad gallop over a few kilometres but it does indicate that the guys are all in pretty good form."
Young gun Sam Bewley took charge of the yellow jersey after he led Zookeepers teammates Roulston, Gordon McCauley, Marc Ryan and Matthew Haydock over the line.
- NZPA
