Cycling: Local riders tackle tough 3-day Tour of Taranaki

Stratford riders Mel Titter, Jason Thomason, Blake Fergus, Paul Duynhoven, Gregory Marfell and Michael Torckler were riding for the Blindz Direct Cycling Team in the A Grade section of the 3-day Tour of Taranaki cycle race over Queens Birthday Weekend.

Stage 1: Saturday morning, Kaponga 85km.

The team successfully got Mel Titter and Blake Fergus into the winning break with Titter finishing 6th. The rest of the team finished 3min 30 sec back in the peloton.

Stage 2: ITT (individual time trial) 7km Kaponga.

Michael Torckler; 1st Jason Thomason; 2nd Mel Titter; 8th and Paul Duynhoven; 14th

Stage 3: Sunday Morning. Stratford out to Te Wera with a loop back to Douglas 75km.

Jason Thomason attacked with Gordon McCauley and stayed away for 40km to be narrowly beaten by the 5 times ex NZ champion. Mel Titter remained in 4th at 6 secs on GC (General Classification). Thomason takes the early KOM (King of the Mountain points) and goes into the afternoon stage wearing the polka dot jersey.

Stage 4: Sunday Afternoon. Stratford out to Toko with a loop inland around Huiroa coming out at Douglas. 48km.

Michael Torckler scores the KOM points on Sangsters hill on the run into Stratford then narrowly beats 2 others to win the stage. Torckler takes over the polka dot jersey from team mate Thomason. Titter is still 4th on GC.

Stage 5: Monday. Inglewood 85km down through Everett Park returning to Inglewood via Lincoln Rd. 3 laps.

Michael Torckler breaks away in the first kilometre with Gordon McCauley and secures the KOM jersey by scoring points all 3 times up the only climb of the day. He also wins the stage. Titter Thomason Duynhoven and Marfell unsuccessfully try to break away from the peloton late in the stage to gain the seconds required to secure the 6 seconds required by Titter to win the overall GC.