Australians Brendan Johnston and Jon Odams won the queen stage of The Pioneer in Alexandra, New Zealand, today.
The duo won the stage by just over three minutes to move 37 seconds clear of Tim Rush and Michael Vink on the general classification. The latter team also placed second on the day.
Ryan Sissons and Sam Osborne completed the podium and in the process moved to third overall.
“Today we kind of had to take it to them pretty early, our intention wasn’t to drop them but just to put the pressure on them on the bits that suited us which was probably the early single track,” said Johnston.
“But we just opened up a gap on the first climb and kind of went on with it and pushed on and broke the pack up and had five minutes at one point. From there we had to conserve until we got to the final climb which we were looking at all day.”
Kate McIlroy and Amy Hollamby conitnued their dominance of the women’s field, while Joe Skerman and Josie Wilcox won the mixed team event.
View more results below.
Stage two (112km)
Open men
1. Brendan Johnston & Jon Odams, AUS, Giant Australia, 4:33:35
2. Tim Rush & Michael Vink, NZL, Onya Bike North Otago, 4:36:52
3. Ryan Sissons & Sam Osborne, NZL, Winger Hamilton, 4:43:50
Open women
1. Kate McIlroy & Amy Hollamby, NZL, Stonewood Homes, 5:35:50
2. Nina McVicar & Reta Trotman, NZL, New World St Martins, 6:14:24
3. Hannah Buchannan & Sarah Gilbert, NZL/USA, Tiki Wine & Vineyards, 6:47:33
Mixed
1. Joe Skerman & Josie Wilcox, NZL, JoJo, 5:14:52
2. Holly Harris & Michael Harris, AUS, Sram Mtoss, 5:28:39
3. Mark Williams & Kate Fluker, NZL, New World-Pivot, 5:30:11
General Classification
Open men
1. Brendan Johnston & Jon Odams, AUS, Giant Australia, 9:23:39
2. Tim Rush & Michael Vink, NZL, Onya Bike North Otago, 9:24:16
3. Ryan Sissons & Sam Osborne, NZL, Winger Hamilton, 9:38:39
Open Women
1. Kate McIlroy & Amy Hollamby, NZL, Stonewood Homes, 11:24:57
2. Nina McVicar & Reta Trotman, NZL, New World St Martins, 12:44:14
3. Hannah Buchannan & Sarah Gilbert, NZL/USA, Tiki Wine & Vineyards, 13:37:35
Mixed
1. Joe Skerman & Josie Wilcox, NZL, JoJo, 10:36:56
2. Mark Williams & Kate Fluker, NZL, New World-Pivot, 10:55:28
3. Holly Harris & Michael Harris, AUS, Sram Mtoss, 11:02:18
