All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Kapiti News

Cycling: Euan Mason describes his Tour of Southland ride as part of the ITM team

Kapiti News
24 Nov, 2023 02:04 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Euan Mason, second from left in yellow jersey, with teammates.
Euan Mason, second from left in yellow jersey, with teammates.

Euan Mason, second from left in yellow jersey, with teammates.

Euan Mason, 18, who finished his schooling at Paraparaumu College last month, has participated in cycling’s Tour of Southland. Mason, who has signed on with the Zappi-U23 development team in Italy next, lined up fresh out of the under-19 junior ranks and ready for 900km of gruelling stage racing with his ITM teammates. He was the youngest rider on the tour. Here’s his account of the experience.

Stage 1 was a 40km, 10-lap criterium race around the same Queen’s Park circuit. The criterium was a really hard and fast opener for me. With a big bunch of some of New Zealand’s top riders, it didn’t take long for the gaps to open. After day one I had a taste of what it was like being in a full tour environment and a big bunch, but the real test was to come the following days.

Stage 2 was the famous 166km gravel run to Lumsden. The pace was on for most of the day with an average speed of 41km/h, but I especially noticed the first hour of even higher speed with the breakaway trying its luck. I managed to stay in the main bunch all the way up to the gravel section, which this year was particularly deep and rough, coming home and crossing the line a respectable 90th.

Stage 3 was to Te Anau. This was by far my hardest day on the bike. With a rolling start out of Riverton, it didn’t take long for me, with my lack of knowledge and positioning, to get caught out in the back split 40km into the 150km stage. This meant I was in for a very long day with a handful of others rolling turns, and in the end only making the time cut by three minutes. However, some valuable lessons were learnt that put me in better positions, literally, for the remainder of the tour. I also learnt how not to use the convoy. Never fight against the vans to overtake, wait until they hit the brakes first, then jump onto the next van.

The racing took riders through some stunning scenery.
The racing took riders through some stunning scenery.
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Stage 4 was the run into Queenstown and finishing on the top of The Remarkables. This was the day I was worried about the most. With a 7km 10 per cent climb to the finish, this actually turned out to be my best day on the bike on the whole tour. After learning the previous day, I made sure I was in good position over all of the key sections for the race, at one point even rubbing shoulders with the top 20/30 wheels over the Devil’s Staircase. This meant I made it to the bottom of The Remarkables with, dare I say, relative ease and was able to focus on the road in front. To top it all off, I not only did my best power record up The Remarkables, but also got my highest placing of this year’s tour, finishing mid-pack in 77th.

Stage 5 brought some damp, cloudy, drizzly conditions and the run into Bluff Hill to finish. It was a tough day right from the start, with a major crash only 5km in, which brought down two-thirds of the bunch. I had to use every trick in my book to get back to and stay in the main bunch for as long as possible - while the break was fighting to go - and haul myself over the KOM (King of the Mountain). I managed to achieve my goal and made it to Bluff Hill after three and a half hours and an average speed of 44 km/h. I then brought it home across the line, where I ended up finishing 80th.

Children show their support.
Children show their support.

Stage 6 featured Gore and was another fast day, with an early break which started a chase for most of the day, It really hurt—the first two hours sat at an average of 48km/h. I’m not going to use getting a puncture as an excuse for why I got dropped, because I would be lying if I didn’t say I was only hanging on by the skin of my teeth. The puncture was the final nail in the coffin and at 120km in I got dropped after changing wheels. I did get to implement my new van-drafting skills and convoy-navigating, though. I ended up doing the remaining 30km out the back but rolled home well within the time cut.

Stage 7 was a 14km individual time trial where I buried myself, as the 20 per cent time cut still applied. This meant I couldn’t lose any more than three minutes to the winners, and then they extended the time cut, but that was okay because I did my target effort and finished 96th.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Euan Mason, fourth from left, with teammates.
Euan Mason, fourth from left, with teammates.

Stage 8 was the final stage, a short 77km home run into Invercargill, thus marking the end of my first SBS Bank Tour of Southland. What an experience. I’m delighted and privileged to have participated in this year’s tour. I learnt a lot about myself but crucially, I also learnt more about top-level racing and tactics. Thank you to everyone who contributed to and supported me in getting me to the event, including the Kāpiti Cycling Club.


Save

    Share this article

Latest from Kapiti News

Kapiti News

Mumpreneur revolutionises property management

Kapiti News

Kāpiti news in brief: Award-winning nature photo features rare bird nesting

Kapiti News

Beloved Paraparaumu College teachers bid farewell after long service


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

Young woman jailed for Connor Boyd's death to be released on parole
New Zealand

Young woman jailed for Connor Boyd's death to be released on parole

'A lot of fast food': Mum who stole $500k from employer blew most on takeaways
New Zealand

'A lot of fast food': Mum who stole $500k from employer blew most on takeaways

Indonesia ferry fire kills three, more than 500 rescued
World

Indonesia ferry fire kills three, more than 500 rescued

'Love you moko': Grieving grandma vows justice for 20yo killed after birthday celebration
Waikato Herald

'Love you moko': Grieving grandma vows justice for 20yo killed after birthday celebration

'Gamechanger': New clinic brings 'hope' to children with neurological disorders
Rotorua Daily Post

'Gamechanger': New clinic brings 'hope' to children with neurological disorders

Businessman dies after fishing trip on Fiordland National Park lake
New Zealand

Businessman dies after fishing trip on Fiordland National Park lake



Latest from Kapiti News

Mumpreneur revolutionises property management
Kapiti News

Mumpreneur revolutionises property management

How Chelsea Gill created a family-friendly business.

15 Dec 11:30 PM
Kāpiti news in brief: Award-winning nature photo features rare bird nesting
Kapiti News

Kāpiti news in brief: Award-winning nature photo features rare bird nesting

12 Dec 10:48 PM
Beloved Paraparaumu College teachers bid farewell after long service
Kapiti News

Beloved Paraparaumu College teachers bid farewell after long service

11 Dec 10:15 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search