Australian Jack Anderson has taken control of the leader's yellow jersey after the first stage of the 480km Wellington Cycling Classic yesterday.
Anderson's team, Budget Forklifts, clocked the fastest time of 9m 38s as he led them across the line in an 8.8km team time trial held atLower Hutt's Avalon circuit.
A tick away in second was leading New Zealand team Subway-Avanti at 1s with the Trust House team third at 10s.
With the real racing starting with today's 133km second stage from Featherston to Masterton, all the favoured teams remain in contention.
Eric Drower led the Subway team across the line but team leader Gordon McCauley was clocked at the same time, Paul Odlin and Scott Lyttle were to the fore for Trust House, while Australians Will Dickerson and David Pell as well as New Zealanders Jeremy Vennell (Cardno) and Jeremy Yates (Enterprise) are within 18s of the lead.
"Today's result doesn't change a lot, there are a lot harder and longer days to come," said Anderson, who is making his first appearance in this race.
"We'll go out to work together as a team but we don't have a team leader as yet and I don't think the team will kill themselves to defend it [the yellow jersey].
"We'll see how the day plays out tomorrow, make sure our team have riders in any break and go from there," said Anderson, who added he had been told the tour could contain everything he didn't like, such as wind, rain and cold.
Meanwhile, McCauley, despite having won the national road race title for a record fifth time two weeks ago, is downplaying his chances of winning this tour.
"[Seems like] it's just a race I'm not destined to win although there are some stages I can win and that's what I'll try to do," the two-time Tour of Southland winner said.
