Soaring temperatures and gruelling hills couldn't stop young Australian rider Ben O'Connor stealing a stage win and the yellow jersey in the New Zealand Cycle Classic on Saturday.
O'Connor and his Avanti IsoWhey Sports team dominated the 152km stage from Masterton to Admiral Hill via Te Wharau, O'Connor's winning 4hr 00min 35sec win heading home teammate Mark O'Brien by 31sec.
He holds the yellow jersey by the same margin over O'Brien.
It was 20-year-old O'Connor's first podium finish in a UCI-registered race and his first time claiming a UCI tour leader's jersey.
"I am absolutely stoked. Obviously, the aspiration has always been to become a professional cyclist and this is my first year with Avanti IsoWhey and I am loving it right now," he said.
Riders tackled eight hill climbs during the second last stage of the Classic, and raced in 30 degree temperatures.
A five-man breakaway group built up a four-minute lead, but a crash after 118km meant two riders ended up in hospital - Kiwi cyclist Hamish Schreurs and Australian Nathan Elliot.
The remaining trio was caught by the 20-strong chase group and O'Connor made his move with 20km to go.
His final surge up Admiral Hill wasn't without drama.
"I had a little mechanical mishap when my seat post snapped with 3km to go and I was out of my saddle. I didn't know whether to change bikes or not, but I just copped it and rode to the top."
Sunday's fifth and final stage features an undulating 122km circuit north of Masterton.
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