New Zealand’s longest running stage race celebrates its 66th edition this year
From humble beginnings in 1956, the SBS Bank Tour of Southland has grown to be an event that looms large on the cycling calendar, not only in New Zealand, but well beyond its borders.
Back for its 66th edition this year, it is the longest running stage race in New Zealand, and is back with a bigger field including an international team and riders.
Many of the greats of New Zealand cycling have etched their names on the illustrious list of winners, while many more have honed their trade on the roads of Southland before heading overseas to achieve even greater success.
Brian Fowler leads the way with the most overall titles claimed, eight in total between his first win in 1985 and his last in 1995.
Hayden Roulston claimed four overall victories between 2006 and 2010, with the great Tino Tabak claiming three titles from 1965 to 1967, and Warrick Dalton also claiming three titles between 1959 and 1969.
Defending champion Michael Vink will be looking to join Roulston as a four time winner when he lines up on 30 October with the Transport Engineering Southland - Deep South team. After finishing second twice, in 2016 and 2017, Vink claimed back to back titles in 2018 and 2019, with another second place overall in 2020, before claiming his third title in 2021.
Although no other former winners will be rolling up to the start line this year, Vink is likely to face some tough competition for the title this year.
Two UCI Continental teams will be lining up to challenge for the title, with the ARA Pro Cycling Sunshine Coast team from Australia bringing a strong contingent, some of them fresh off competing in the grueling Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.
Among their number they count Brady Gilmour, who claimed the Oceania U23 road race title in a very tough field, and Kane Richards, who claimed fourth in an Australian National Road Race championships littered with World Tour professionals.
The New Zealand Cycle Project - MitoQ team, racing in their guise as the Creation Signs - MitoQ team for the Tour, brings a squad including last year’s winner on The Remarkables and top ten overall finisher, Josh Burnett, along with Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the mountain bike, Ben Oliver, and track ace and defending Harcourts Sprint Ace winner George Jackson.
The team tasted significant success on a three month stint racing in the USA, where Burnett won the best young rider classification in the Joe Martin Stage Race, and Jackson taking out the oldest road race in North America, the Tour of Somerville, and will be hungry for more success on home turf.
Fourth place finisher overall last year, Ollie Jones, will be back for another run at the podium with the PowerNet team, as will sixth place overall, Keegan Hornblow, riding for the Couplands - Booths Group team.
Alex Heaney, who took second to Vink in 2019, will also be back, this time riding for the Spoken Cycles team.
However, Vink may also need to keep an eye on some more left field challengers. Two other former top contenders are also returning to the Tour, with Joseph Cooper (Central Benchmakers - WillBike) and Michael Torckler (Quality Foods Southland) both bringing a lot of experience to the event.
Of course, when it comes to experience, there is no rider in the field who can come close to Travis Kane.
The Invercargill local will be lining up for the Business South Cycling Team in an attempt to complete his 23rd consecutive Tour, something that has never been achieved before and is unlikely to be matched by anyone else anytime soon.
Experience plays a key role in making it through a challenging event like the SBS Bank Tour of Southland, and the riders with more experience than most can also contest the Stonewood Homes silver jersey classification for riders over 35 years of age.
The pink Henderson Construction U23 jersey recognises the best young rider in the field, based on position in the overall classification.
The stages with significant climbs in them are often key to determining the outcome of the overall race, but also determine who will wear the distinctive polkadot Jesco Hydraulics King of the Mountain jersey, with riders who spend time in the breakaways often managing to build up a significant points buffer over those who save themselves for the two mountain top stage finishes.
The flatter stages are important in determining the winner of the Harcourts Sprint Ace classification, with riders contesting intermediate sprints during the stages, as well as sprinting for the big points up for grabs at the stage finish.
Throughout the Tour, the support of a strong team is vital, as no team leader can chase down every dangerous move on their own.
The strongest teams will also hope to lay claim to the Wensley’s Cycles team classification at the end of the tour, decided by adding up the times of the top three finishers for each team on each stage.
It is not just the riders who win stages and lead the tour who are in line for recognition, but also those who enliven the daily stages by going on the attack early on, whether in a small group or in a bold solo move.
These riders are in line to claim the McLeay Jewellers Most Combative jersey, which is presented to the rider judged to have been the key animator of the day’s racing.
Teamwork, sacrifice, and triumph against all odds are key elements of the drama that makes up the SBS Bank Tour of Southland, played out against an ever changing backdrop provided by the stunning scenery of Southland.