Wellington earns Lanterne Rouge honour

Nov 9th, 09. It may have a reputation for being a windy city, but Wellington winds are nothing compared to the cross-winds in Southland say the three Wellington rookies in the Energy Smart team.

Andy, Lee and Chris (c)RoadCycling.co.nz

Andy Hagan, Chris Kendall and Lee Evans from Wellington hadn't done a Tour of Southland between them when they decided to take on the Southern Challenge. They joined Aucklander Jonathon Atkinson and Cantabrian Jono Gee to become the Energy Smart team.

Like many of the riders, it was a fairly quick introduction to the Southern winds when on the first day of the tour all three were involved in the Stage 2 pile-up.

Chris was the worst affected. Sporting a blood shot and bruised eye and a gash out of his knee, he told RoadCycling.co.nz he came down in the carnage breaking his rear wheel (a new wheel of course) in the mangle of people and bikes.

Unlike nine other riders who abandoned through injury or lack of a usable bike, Chris went on to finish the stage. By the end of the next day's ride to Gore, Chris was the Lanterne Rouge, a position he held right until the presentation at the team's dinner on Saturday night.

He spent an additional 3h45m out in the tough Southland winds compared to tour winner Heath Blackgrove.

"This tour is the hardest thing I've ever done," Chris said. "Wellington winds don't prepare you for this. At home we get head, head, head, cross - down here it's cross, cross, head, cross, cross."

Andy agreed. "The cross-winds on the flat are way, way harder than any hills," he said as he looked forward to the climb up the Crown Ranges.

One of only nine teams to finish with all five riders, Chris said he was determined not to let his Energy Smart team down. "I was in the gutter the whole time. I'm just super pleased to be finishing," he said on the morning of the last day.

He didn't let his team down and overall Energy Smart weren't the bottom team on the Team's Classification (measured by the top three riders home), that honour went to South Western Helicopters who were a further three hours back.

The final sentiment of the Wellington rookies, "I'm just glad it's over."

To finish the Tour of Southland is a great achievement. At the final presentation Floyd Landis said anyone who can finish the Tour of Southland should be considered a top cyclist capable of handling themselves in the top league.

Congrats to Andy, Chris and Lee - they might be knackered, but they achieved their goal.

Energy Smart results

66th Andy HAGAN +1:09:13
72th Jonathon ATKINSON +1:21:38
85th Lee EVANS +2:15:01
88th Johno GEE +2:33:33
94th Chris KENDALL +3:45:03

Lee Evans climbing on Stage 4 (c)RoadCycling.co.nz

Andy Hagen, team time trial (c)RoadCycling.co.nz

Chris Kendall warms up for the final stage (c)RoadCycling.co.nz

Team Energy Smart (c)RoadCycling.co.nz