Matthews gets Jayco-Skins first international win

The Kiwis were excluded from the podium today after a bunch sprint finish in the fourth stage of the Trust House Cycle classic. The race around the Gladstone circuit was dominated by two breakaways, however by ten kilometres to go the field was back together for a bunch sprint finish. It was Australian Michael Matthews riding for the Jayco Skins team who took line honours.

Despite a foreign podium the yellow jersey remains on Kiwi Michael Torckler’s shoulders.

The first break of the race went early within the first ten kilometres. The group of ten included Team Solway rider Heath Blackgrove, who was sitting fourth in the general classification. Blackgrove hoped to gain enough time on the bunch to wrestle the yellow jersey off Torckler.

Blackgrove’s teammate Jeremy Yates attacked on the hill climb to take the first of the day’s king of the mountain points.

The bunch kept tabs on the breakaway, never allowing them more than a 1:40 lead. The chase was driven by Cardno and Drapac Porsche, the two teams most threatened by this break.

When the break’s lead diminished to less than forty seconds, they slowed their pace and soon rejoined the peloton.

It was only Subway-Avanti rider Ryan Wills from the breakaway who attempted to sustain the lead. Wills won this stage in last year’s tour and the temptation for a repeat performance saw him working solo. His efforts failed and his small lead soon disintegrated.

The bunch was only stagnant for a few kilometres before another break went free. Four riders made a move, with another three bridging across to put seven riders out in front. This bunch, including Jai Crawford (Fly V Australia) and Solway’s Logan Hutchings battled cross winds to obtain their lead. A minute and a half was all the bunch would forfeit to them.

Over the next 40 kilometres the time gap slowly diminished until the breakaway was once again engulfed by the peloton.

In the last five kilometres Mike Northey (Bici Vida) and Australian Dylan Newell (Genesys Wealth Advisers) made a frantic attack, putting 25 seconds on the peloton however they were unable to sustain the lead.

Two kilometres to go, Australian teams Shortis Cycle and Drapac Porsche were driving the peloton.

It was Michael Matthews (Jayco Skins) who edged out his competition to take win in the sprint.

Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers) was second, with Canadian Charles Dionne, riding for Fly V Australia, third.

The King of the Mountain competition was sewn up today with Lachlan Norris (Drapac Porsche) taking the polka dot jersey.

The bunch sprint meant that there was no change to the time gaps separating the top four riders.

Tomorrow’s final stage sees the riders take to the streets of central Wellington in a criterium.

Results