South African Trust House Cycle Classic Stage 3 winner Jay Thompson pumped his fists in an energetic victory display as he lead a tight bunch over the finish line yesterday.
Thompson, racing for Team Fly V Australia, held on to the sprint ace's green jersey with his time of 3h 40min
21s as an equally-excited Fly V crew member congratulated him on a "great ride" telling the elated Thompson "you're an animal".
Thompson overpowered late stage leaders Joseph Lewis and Clarke Williams to secure the win and said it was a case of "cat and mouse" with the rest of the closely-following bunch made up of an early break of around 10 riders.
"It was a great start today for Fly V and I managed to have the legs to hold everyone off," he said.
"It's hard, it's long, it's flat, it's windy, it's open but the team trusted in me and I pulled it off," Thompson said of the 164km Masterton-Pahiatua-Masterton leg, which is a new addition to the Classic.
However, New Plymouth hill climb specialist Michael Torckler (who finished 22nd) retained the overall leaders' yellow jersey he picked up for winning Wednesday's gruelling slog to Admiral Hill.
Locally-sponsored Team Solway Park represented well with three riders, including Wairarapa's seventh-placed Scott Lyttle, finishing in the top 10 hurtling over the Church Street, Masterton, finish line.
Solway Park's Jeremy Yates got to the podium in third behind Jayco-Skins' second-placed Michael Matthews.
Lyttle said his five-strong team had planned to be aggressive because "we didn't have a lot to lose but we had a lot to gain".
Ultimately solid representation in the lead bunch didn't give Solway Park any points advantage but Lyttle said the team were happy to have followed through on their forceful strategy nevertheless.
Lyttle said he expected another bunch finish for today's 127km, three-lap circuit of Gladstone.
