Porte leads Team Solway into town

Richie Porte hit the jackpot when he tore home in first place yesterday taking out stage two of the Trust House Cycle Classic a day after celebrating his 23rd birthday.
Australian based, Porte, cycles for Team Solway Park Hotel and with the help of Masterton's Scott Lyttle he broke away from the group and begun his lead home from Te Wharau Hill.
Yesterday's race began in Featherston covering 133.5km through Martinborough and Gladstone after a late start due to a bus heading back to Wellington with some of a competing Australian team's cycle gear.
Exhausted but ecstatic crossing the finish line, Porte was congratulated by his teammates who followed closely behind. Porte said it wasn't an easy day cycling but support from Lyttle got him home first.
"It was a win for Wairarapa and for the team. They really helped me out today."
"Scott started attacking at the bottom of the hill and that was when he set it up for me and I was lucky to break away," he said.
Travis Meyer from Team South Australia took out second place and also claimed the yellow leader's jersey heading into today's stage three up Admiral Hill.
Chris Luxton from Team Savings and Loans wrapped up the Australian trifecta in third place.
Fellow teammate David Pell scored the sprint ace jersey while Joe Cooper from Team Subway Cycling was declared king of the mountains. Temperatures soared to 30 degrees yesterday, which Lyttle says is suited to his team.
"We don't mind it and we're all used to the heat. It's the wind we hate." Team Solway Park Hotel cyclist Daniell Furmston celebrates his birthday today and his teammates are hoping for a repeat performance to mark the occasion.
Team manager Matt Harvey was thrilled with the win and said despite a couple of the boys feeling tired "on the whole the team is looking good heading into stage three". Today's race covers 185km followed by a 32km Gladstone circuit starting at 9.30am on Saturday from Copthorne Solway Park Hotel.
The Masterton criterium is being held on Saturday for the first time, leaving Church Street at 3pm.
Mr Harvey said the cycle organisers were trying to involve the community a lot more this year and by changing the criterium to Saturday, more spectators may be encouraged to come along.