Jan 30th, 10. U23 leader Australian Michael Matthews (Jayco Skins) won the bunch kick to win Stage 4 of the Trust House Cycle Classic. There were no changes to the jersey leaders.

Michael Matthews wins Stage 4 ©RoadCycling.co.nz

With many teams without a rider within a few minutes of the two leaders of the tour, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain in today's penultimate stage.

The pace was on from beginning right through to the end with the riders turning into the Masterton finishing straight twenty minutes before they were expected.

The average speed for the 128km stage was 42km/h.

At the start of today's stage Kiwi Michael Torckler (Cardno) led the tour by 5sec over Lachlan Norris (Drapac Porsche) with 1m31 to the next two riders.

The following riders were well spread out with the 20th placed after yesterday's stage a significant 4m05 behind.

In today's first break were nine riders including two Kiwis from Solway Team (Heath Blackgrove and Jeremy Yates) who were still hoping to increase their 4th and 7th on General Classification positions.

With them at the first of three King of the Mountain passes on the three lap Gladstone circuit were James McCoy (Benchmark), Ryan Wills (Subway Avanti) and one Australian rider from each of Jayco Skins, Fly V Australia, Gensys Wealth Advisers and Team McDonagh Blake-Witness.

Cardno Team chasing down the break up the 1st KOM ©RoadCycling.co.nz

On the final sprint before the final climb the break had a lead of just over 1m.

With the pace of the chase, the peloton was in single file and soon after broke apart with some riders limping home more ten minutes after the leaders.

Back at the front of the action the break was caught, setting the stage for a bunch finish back in Masterton.  

Bici Vida's Northey didn't want to wait for the bunch kick and attacked with Australian rider Dylan Newell, Genesys Wealth Advisers.  

However, the peloton denied the duo the chance to duel for the stage win and swallowed them up before the final kilometre where Australians filed over the finish line for the first three places. Daniel Barry from Benchmark Homes crossed in 4th.

"I got three of our riders on the front to bring the break back so I could have a sprint at the end. It worked really well," said Matthews of his victory.

"About 5km to go I had pretty good position, with people going everywhere, it was pretty crazy."

The peloton is strung out on the final lap ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"We had a go at everything, I think we had to," said Norris.

"The pressure is on us, being five seconds behind.  We just had to try and get away, try and get in moves. Unfortunately nothing worked today, but it's another day tomorrow."

Given the GC placings after today's stage, Torckler and his Cardno team haven't won the tour yet but it would have to be a particularly unlikely day for the Kiwi not to walk away with the overall victory.

As long as Torckler finishes in the main bunch tomorrow, the only threat is if Norris finishes 2nd or better when time bonuses would give him the lead.

Torckler's Cardno Team have proved smart riders to date and are expected to race just as smart in tomorrow afternoon's street circuit in Lambton Quay in Wellington.

"I just hoped the boys had a fair bit left in their legs and that they kept it together, and they did," he said of the teams third day in defence of the leader's jersey.  "The boys have been riding outstanding, so we are pretty happy."

Although Torckler isn't a big fan of criteriums, he did win the crit in the Hub Tour a couple of weeks ago.

Finally the Aussie domination of the Trust House Cycle Classic seems to have been broken and there won't be a three-peat for the Australians.

Related articles on the Trust House Cycle Classic

• Full results
• Team lists
• Torckler crowned Trust House Tour Champion
• Fast paced stage sets Torckler up for final tour defence
• Sprint Ace wins stage but Kiwi retains yellow
• Attacks expected in Trust House tour today
• Torckler gives Kiwis something to cheer about
• From Tour Down Under to Wellington tour
• Defending champion stakes his claim
• Summit fun on Rimutaka Hill
• Five NZ champions for Trust House tour
• Kiwi Aussie showdown looming
• Defending champion back for Trust House tour

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