The Pioneer 2017 – Stage 5 “Queen Stage” from Lake Ohau to Hawea (NZ)
The Pioneer 2017 – Stage 5 “Queen Stage” from Lake Ohau to Hawea (NZ)
KIWIS TAKE CONTROL OF PIONEER WITH QUEEN STAGE VICTORY
They call it the Queen Stage and so it proved today on The Pioneer, with the 112km ride from Lake Ohau to Lake Hawea testing even the strongest of the riders, as Watson & Son Manuka Honey (James Williamson and Scott Lyttle) rode superbly to extend their overall lead on general classification.
After mechanical issues yesterday derailed the Alps to Ocean team of Tim and Kris Rush, all eyes were today on Williamson and Lyttle and their closest rivals, the Imparables Men’s Masters 40+ pairing of Ibon Zugasti and Tommi Misser (Spain), but it was the Kiwi pair who came out strongest, winning the stage by 4:24.
Lyttle was blunt in his assessment of the ride, one that included 3,578 metres of climbing, as riders crested the upper end of the Ahuriri River, Mt Selina and then the final gut busting climb to 1,442 metres out of the Lindis Pass, before an exhilarating ride down to the finish on the shore of Lake Hawea.
They call it the Queen Stage and so it proved today on The Pioneer, with the 112km ride from Lake Ohau to Lake Hawea testing even the strongest of the riders, as Watson & Son Manuka Honey (James Williamson and Scott Lyttle) rode superbly to extend their overall lead on general classification.
After mechanical issues yesterday derailed the Alps to Ocean team of Tim and Kris Rush, all eyes were today on Williamson and Lyttle and their closest rivals, the Imparables Men’s Masters 40+ pairing of Ibon Zugasti and Tommi Misser (Spain), but it was the Kiwi pair who came out strongest, winning the stage by 4:24.
Lyttle was blunt in his assessment of the ride, one that included 3,578 metres of climbing, as riders crested the upper end of the Ahuriri River, Mt Selina and then the final gut busting climb to 1,442 metres out of the Lindis Pass, before an exhilarating ride down to the finish on the shore of Lake Hawea.