New Zealand National team's Kiaan Watts has won stage two, while James Oram has retained the yellow jersey at the New Zealand Cycle Classic.
Kiaan Watts wins stage two of the 2023 NZ Cycle Classic. Photo: Dave Lintott/Lintott Photography
Watts edged out Matthew Rice and Luke Mudgway to take out the 127km stage after a tight bunch sprint into the wine village of Martinborough in Wairarapa on Thursday.
Mudgway's Black Spoke teammate Oram finished 25th across the line but did enough to retain the overall lead.
Stage winner Watts described the last kilometre as "pretty hectic."
"You really want to be in the top 10 wheels into that last corner, which is about 700m to go, and I just made it inside there and was about seventh wheel … and just ended up inside.
"I was coming in at some pace but those CCACHE Par KUP guys did a good lead out and I was a bit worried their lead out man was going to swing left and ride to my way, but I just managed to sneak passed them."
During the presentation of the classification jerseys, Oram said the gaps between the leading trio and peloton at the start of the eight-lap circuit were constantly changing and the wind made conditions challenging.
The yellow jersey holder was planning for a tactical race on Friday, during the hilly 155km "Queen" stage.
"Normally, a solid breakaway can stay together until the finish (up Admiral Hill) which will play into our hands, and it will be really nice if we can be in that group," Oram said.
