KEY POINTS:
Brutal wintry conditions in the deep south today has forced Tour of Southland organisers to shorten the two stages raced today.
In temperatures as low as one degree centigrade, competitiors battled hail, strong gusty winds, sleet and snow in equal measures throughout stage four from Invercargill to Tuatapere.
With the leaders about 20km from their destination, tour director Bruce Ross cut the stage by 3km to avoid what would have been a treacherous descent from the final climb at Orawia in snowy conditions.
"The health and safety of the riders are paramaount and these conditions were the worst I have seen in the 52 years of the tour," Ross said.
The afternoon's fifth stage from Tuatapere to Winton was also reduced by 35km to save the riders from facing a bitterly cold and strong headwind between Tuatapere and Colac Bay on the southern coast.
Defending champion Hayden Roulston won the fourth stage in two hours 11 minutes 22 seconds, with rival Heath Blackgrove of the Colourplus team just over 1sec behind the Southland Times Trek rider.
Third was Subway's James Williamson.
Gordon McCauley retained the yellow jersey when he finished less then a minute behind Roulston.
One "rider" who did not finish the stage was a snowman on top of a bicycle at Rackles Hill.
- NZPA
