Hospital visit ends 'drive for five'

November 4 2011

Ashburton cyclist Hayden Roulston's drive for five titles in cycling's Tour of Southland had an abrupt end yesterday after he was forced to withdraw with a medical condition during the fifth stage.

The defending champion started the day as tour leader riding out at 10am in the yellow jersey with a six second lead, but within the hour of starting the 179km stage five from Te Anau to the Crown Range his tour was over.
Roulston was understood to have been troubled the previous night with a nagging pain and it was doubtful whether he was even going to start the stage.
He took to the start line but soon had to withdraw from the race because of suspected kidney stones and was taken to Southland Hospital for tests after pulling out of the race.
The defending champion's withdrawal was a shockwave that has thrown the race wide open with two days of racing left.
Roulston wasn't the only casualty with six other riders not making it to the finish line.
Yesterday's stage five was one of the most gruelling as the riders battled not only the long distance and climb up the Crown Range but driving rain, winds and cold conditions.
In the end it was promising junior rider Josh Atkins who won the fifth stage to claim the yellow jersey with a lead of 1.09 minutes, and he also holds the under 23 jersey.
Atkins pulled away inside the closing two kilometres and powered to a 29 second win from Patrick Bevin with Jeremy Yates third.
Roulston's Calder Stewart team also suffered, slipping from second place 13 seconds back at the start of the day to be 19 minutes behind Share the Road which took over the Tour
lead.
The Sprint Ace jersey stayed with Gordon McCauley and the King of the Mountain remained with Joe Chapman.

Most Popular

Ashburton Weather

Feedback Form

Front Page