Cycling: Yates continues to give rivals slip in dream run

INVERCARGILL - Jeremy Yates' rivals are fast running out of chances to win the Tour of Southland.

In three days Yates has conquered the two most significant peaks on the tour in a dominating performance.

After spending much of yesterday's 130km stage from Lumsden to Queenstown buried in the peloton, Yates emerged for a thrilling duel up the switchbacks of the Crown Range with Scott Guyton, his main rival from the Southland Times team.

They each spent almost the entire ascent trying to get the jump before being dragged back in by the other.

With the finish line just above their right shoulder, Guyton exploded around the final bend and into the home straight near the Crown Range lookout.

It looked like Yates had responded too slowly, but his momentum was irresistible by the time he was back on Guyton's wheel.

Guyton was left floundering as Yates crossed the finish line for his second stage victory.

"Scott's not a fast sprinter, so I knew I could take him on the climb," Yates said.

"I think gearing selection played a big part in that. I just managed to sneak around over the last hundred metres."

The race shifts to Balfour today for a 15km individual time trial to Riversdale.

Guyton can still see an opportunity to slap Yates out of his dream run.

"His team's not riding. He's got some good guys riding for him but they are not really riding that smart, sending Gordon McCaulay up the road and leaving Jeremy exposed," said Guyton."If they keep riding like that, Jeremy's going to have to do a lot more work."

- NZPA