There have been several course changes made to this year’s PowerNet Tour of Southland, in what Cycling Southland’s Tour Manager Bruce Ross said is to refresh the event and to avoid familiarity among those competing.

“The previous course used had been in place for three years and we felt it was an appropriate time to make some necessary changes. It has always been the Tour’s philosophy to take this iconic event to as much of the Southland region as possible and give our residents an opportunity to see what is regarded as the showcase of New Zealand cycling, up close and personal”, Ross said.

Length of stages and places within the region that have the facilities to accommodate the Tour, determine the route and with the Tour being such an important promotional tool for Southland, it is imperative that the event involves the communities throughout the region.

This year’s course features the introduction of new stages and the reshuffle of previously used stages in what Ross predicts will provide a stern challenge for all involved. The introduction of the Te Anau to Crown Range stage will certainly be a highlight with the 180km section likely to be a defining stage to the event’s overall outcome.

The Tour commences with a short prologue team’s time trial on Sunday afternoon around Invercargill’s Queens Park which will give the public an opportunity to see the teams in action plus establishing a Tour leader for the six days of racing proper which will commence on Monday 31st October and conclude back in Invercargill on Saturday 5th November.

Several of the traditional sections of the Tour have been retained, including the notorious Bluff Hill, the demanding Blackmount section through to Te Anau and the Eastern Southland stage finish into Gore, but the route taken to these destinations has been altered.

The introduction of a 13km individual time trial as the penultimate stage at Winton will certainly add a new dimension to the Tour. This is in line with other major Tours throughout the world and is designed to assist in keeping the Tour result alive until the end as events have been often won and lost on such a stage.

Ross believes overall that the new Tour route is challenging with the emphasis on introducing single stage days wherever possible. It is also a challenge to Cycling Southland’s Tour organisers to attempt to retain the traditions of the Tour and at the same time, respect the intentions of the events’ forefathers who introduced the Tour 55 years ago, when establishing a cycling event for the people of Southland to enjoy.

Prologue: Teams Time Trial 4.2kms Sunday 30th October 2011 Queens Park, Invercargill

STAGE 1: Monday 31st October 2011 160kms Invercargill – Lumsden Starts Town Hall, Tay Street, Invercargill at 10.00am Invercargill, Wallacetown, Wrights Bush, Thornbury, Otautau, Orawia, Ohai, Nightcaps, Mossburn, Lumsden Finishes at the Southland District Council, Diana Street, Lumsden at approximately 2.00pm

STAGE 2: Tuesday 1st November 2011 138kms Invercargill – Bluff Starts ILT Velodrome, Invercargill at 10.00am Invercargill, Makarewa, Lochiel, Winton, Oreti, Drummond, Waianiwa, Wallacetown, Otatara, Bluff Finishes at the top of Bluff Hill at approximately 1.30pm

STAGE 3: Wednesday 2nd November 2011 48kms Riverton – Tuatapere Starts Palmerston Street, Riverton at 10.00am Riverton, Colac Bay, Orepuki, Tuatapere Finishes at the Waiau Hotel, Tuatapere at approximately 11.30am

STAGE 4: Wednesday 2nd November 2011 100kms Tuatapere – Te Anau Starts Main Street, Tuatapere at 1.00pm Clifden, Blackmount, Manapouri, Te Anau Finishes in the Town Centre, Te Anau at approximately 3.30pm

STAGE 5: Thursday 3rd November 2011 179kms Te Anau – Crown Range Starts at Te Anau Community Centre, Luxmore Drive, Te Anau at 10.00am Te Anau, Mossburn, Five Rivers, Athol, Garston, Kingston, Frankton, Crown Range Finishing at the Lookout Point, Crown Range at approximately 2.45pm

STAGE 6: Friday 4th November 2011 167kms Invercargill – Gore Starts at the ILT Velodrome, Invercargill at 10.00am Invercargill, Rimu, Woodlands, Seaward Downs, Edendale, Wyndham, Mataura, Waimumu, West Gore, Croydon, Hokonui Drive, East Gore, Knapdale, Otama, Riversdale, Mandeville, Gore Finishing on Hokonui Drive, Gore at approximately 2.30pm

STAGE 7: Saturday 5th November 2011 12.8kms Winton Individual Time Trial Starts and finishes opposite the Winton Hotel, Main Street, Winton at 10.00am

STAGE 8: Saturday 5th November 2011 83kms Winton - Invercargill Starts at the Central Southland Lodge, Main Street, Winton at 1.30pm Winton, Centre Bush, Otapiri, Browns, Spring Hills, Grove Bush, Myross Bush, Invercargill

Finishing in Gala Street, Invercargill at approximately 3.30pm

ENDS

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