17.08.12

Tour of Great South Coast - Day 3 - Gale force winds and torrential rain forced the sixth stage of the Tour of the Great South Coast to be cancelled.

Friday 17th August - Gale force winds and torrential rain forced the sixth stage of the Tour of the Great South Coast to be cancelled.

After holding the morning’s Port Fairy Criterium, race organisers decided that rider safety was the most important aspect of the day and cancelled the 60km road race from Port Fairy to Hawkesdale.

“The police made the decision shortly before the stage was due to start,” said Director Sportif, John “Harry” Harris, “It was a wet, miserable uneventful day, you just can’t produce any exciting racing in those conditions.”

“It was pouring with rain and there were riders pulling out all over the place during the criterium,” said Harry, “the boys were actually ready for this afternoon after they had had some hot soup and coffee, it was a shame, they were prepared to go out this afternoon and try to do something.

“They wanted to go out fighting.”

Fellow Kiwi, Gordon McCauley, who is racing with Drapac Cycling, won Stage Five.

The weather forecasts for the area do not look promising for the weekend either, putting doubt on the final stages of the tour.

“Hopefully it can let up, it is absolutely dreadful,” said Harry.

Unfortunately PureBlack Racing is down to four riders for the last three stages after Taylor Gunman pulled out yesterday morning, his injuries from Stage Two causing too much discomfort to race on.

“I made the decision to pull him out,” said Harry, “we need him later on and at the moment his wounds are just red raw.”

Should the weather clear up for Stage Seven and Eight; the cyclists will be racing in a 36km criterium and a 125km road race, which features a category one KOM and seven sprint premes.

AVANTI RIDERS