The peloton got to soak in the full Southland experience in one of the wettest stages in recent memory over a 151km beat from Invercargill to Gore.
Australian rider Liam Walsh made a solo break towards the end of the stage to win ahead of Southland’s Hamish Keast, who won most combative honours, and Japanese rider Elya Hashimoto.
Brisbane-based Walsh was happy to survive the conditions and claim a stage win in his first Southland tour.
"Today was very different. We don’t normally get that much rain over the course of a day, but I’ve performed well in the wet before so I was happy to continue that streak," Walsh said.
"You hear so many stories about this race from everyone back home. I think every time you have a long day people always say, ‘Southland’s way harder’. They weren’t wrong."
It has been a successful week so far for the PowerNet team, with Walsh’s team-mate, Nate Hadden, wearing orange for a day and Kiaan Watts winning into Lumsden on Monday.
Walsh’s win, his first in a solo effort, helped lift the team into the lead in the teams classification.
Burnett and his Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project team-mates were asked to carry a heavy workload throughout the stage, ensuring what began as a 16-strong break did not extend their advantage into danger territory.
At one stage the breakaway got out to close to seven minutes ahead on the road, but a small crash and a lack of cohesion helped to bring the gap down.
"It’s one to tick off for us. We wanted a break to go and it wasn’t too threatening for the [general classification]. We were happy for it to go through to the line within a reasonable time," Burnett said.
"My team-mates did really well, so I owe them a lot for today because it was more on their shoulders than mine."
Burnett is now on the cusp of his second Southland win in three years. His 2022 victory broke a drought going back to 1994, when Doug Bath had been the last local to win their home tour.
Support for Burnett continues to increase the further the peloton travels, even if he does not always get a chance to acknowledge it.
"It’s special. You are trying to focus on the race but you can’t take that for granted because I don’t think there are too many races where you have so many signs and schools.
"I’m really appreciative for all the support, even though sometimes I can’t wave, but it’s been a great week so far."
Australian Declan Trezise has a 10min 47sec lead in the under-23 classification and is fourth overall, while Southland’s Luke Macpherson leads the over-35 category by 2min 28sec.
Bailey O’Donnell (Holmes Solutions) has wrapped up the sprint ace classification, while Burnett leads the king of the mountain standings.
The final day includes a 13km individual time trial based at Winton, before the 77km stage from Winton to Invercargill which brings the tour home after a seven-day journey.
Results. —
SBS Bank Tour of Southland, stage 6, Invercargill to Gore, 161km: Liam Walsh, PNL, 3hr19min 38sec, 1; Hamish Keast, TED at 35sec, 2; Eiya Hashimoto, Japan, at 37sec, 3; Curtis Harrison U23 PNL, at 1min 30sec, 4; Adam Chapman, U23 ADP at 1min 33sec, 5.
General classification: Burnett 17hr 29min 02sec, 1; Matthew Wilson, ADP, at 1min 41sec, 2; Samuel Jenner, CBW, at 2min 52sec, 3; Declan Trezise, U23 TED at 5min 51sec, 4; Finn Mitchell, ADP, at 6min 07sec, 5.
- Nathan Burdon
