The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 99: Hastie wins inaugural Tour of Southland (1956)
Back then, no-one knew how big the event would become, and a relatively small field of 29 set off from the old Post Office in Dee Street, Invercargill, on September 27, 1956.
While the race was still in its infancy, winning it certainly was not any easier. Blustery winds and gravel roads kept the riders honest, and Canterbury rider Pat Wylie was expected to dominate the three-day race.
He was widely considered one of the best riders in the country and his fast-finishing style made him a favourite with the crowd.
Hastie, though, did his best to tire his opponents with aggressive riding at the front of the bunch. But Wylie had his measure and with "effortless finishing" won two of the three sprints to build a useful lead.
Hastie responded with superb ride in the time trial and Wylie had the bad luck of puncturing later on day two.
To Hastie's credit, he refused to push the pace and basically waited for Wylie to catch up.
Nursing a lead of 50sec going into the final day, Hastie stuck to the wheel of Wylie all the way from Balclutha to Invercargill to win the Tour in a time of 15hr 23min 57sec.
It would be 40 years before a second Dunedin rider, Gordon McCauley, won the race.
Hastie, who later became a New Zealand selector and manager, died aged 48 in 1981.
An annual race from Millers Flat to Mosgiel is held in his memory.
