Cycling: Wellington lucky for Dutch

Wellington has again proved a happy hunting ground for Dutch rider Suzanne de Goede, who yesterday scraped through to win the opening stage of the women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand.

Battling a 97-strong field and some occasionally feisty northerlies, de Goede won the opening 35km criterium around the streets of Lower Hutt.

She finished a heartbeat ahead of second placed Australian Oenone Wood, with New Zealander Joanne Kiesanowski fractionally back in third.