Subtle changes provide new challenges

The SBS Bank Tour of Southland is rich in history, but not constrained by it, with subtle changes to the tour route from year to year presenting riders with new challenges to look forward to.

Last year saw the introduction of a stage finish up The Remarkables, which certainly elevated the challenge of the tour’s main climbing stage, and allowed the real contenders for overall glory to stake their claim.

The Remarkables will return on Stage 4 of the race this year, with many of the other traditional stages also returning.

However, the 2021 SBS Bank Tour of Southland will feature two new additions, with the introduction of The Langlands Stage 1 street race on the opening day of racing, and some gravel sections on the Southland District Council Stage 2 from Invercargill to Lumsden.

‘‘Gravel riding has become part of mainstream racing in Europe, with some of the major Grand Tours introducing gravel sections.

With an abundance of gravel roads to explore in Southland, it presents a great opportunity to addadditional interest and challenge to the race,’’said Marr.

The Tour will commence on Sunday morning with the

Riverside Rentals team time trial around Invercargill’s Queens Park circuit as the 15 teams entered in this year’s tour get their first opportunity to take the coveted yellow jersey, working in unison to set the fastest time around a deceptively challenging circuit.

This will be followed by The Langlands Stage 1 street race around the same circuit later in the afternoon.

On Monday the race heads out from Invercargill to Lumsden on the Southland District Council Stage 2 over 172km, which will feature some gravel sections in a first for the SBS Bank Tour of Southland.

The Distinction Hotels Stage will return on Tuesday with the traditional route from Riverton to Te Anau over Blackmount,before the riders take on the Queen stage of th eevent, the Aotearoa Gaming Trust Stage 4 from Mossburn to The Remarkables on Wednesday, with the climb up The Remarkables presenting one of the first big tests for those with their sights set on the

overall win.Thursday’s BDO Invercargill Stage 5 from Invercargill to Bluff Hill will a gain favour the climbers, and is one of the most challenging and iconic finishes in the SBS Bank Tour of Southland as riders battle their way up the steep slopes of Bluff Hill

Friday’s Mataura Licensing Trust Stage 6 from Invercargill to Gore is a deceptively difficult stage that has often had a major impact on the overall standings, and riders will be wary of any attacks going off the front of the race

Saturday features two stages, with the 13km McConachie Shearing Stage 7 individual time trial taking place in Winton in the morning, presenting riders with the last real opportunity to make a move up the overall standings.

The Ascot Park Hotel Stage 8 final stage will take the peloton from Winton to Invercargill for a final couple of laps around Queen’s Park, before the overall 2021 SBS Bank Tour of Southland champion is crowned.