Shelley Evans of the US National team won her third stage of the Tour of New Zealand in another bunch sprint on stage 5 between Palmerston North and Masterson. Once again the Peanut Butter & Co-Twenty12 rider was too fast for Australian Ruth Corset (Nashua) and Liu Xin (Giant Pro Cycling-China). Time bonuses on the line means that Evans leapfrogs teammate Amber Neben to retake the leader’s yellow jersey.

On the main climb of the day, in the stage’s early kilometres, New Zealand champion Rushlee Buchanan (New Zealand national team), Serena Sheridan (Cyclosport) and Vicki Whitelaw (Lotto Ladies Team) broke clear. They were later joined by Buchanan’s teammate Jo Kiesanowski as she managed to bridge across.

The four riders managed to stay clear for 90km but were never allowed to build a decisive gap; with 5km to go the tired foursome had just 40 seconds over the peloton led by Evans’ US team.

After mistiming the catch on stage 3, when Irene Digenis (Prime Estate) just managed to keep it at bay, the peloton made no mistake this time and caught the break with just a few hundred metres to go. Evans sat poised on the wheel of incumbent yellow jersey Neben but lost her pedal as she was winding up for her sprint.

Despite losing several places in the peloton, Evans managed to re-clip into her pedal and sprint down the opposite side of the road to the rest of the sprinters to take the win.

With only the final stage criterium in downtown Wellington remaining, Evans looks to have this year’s Tour of New Zealand sewn up, with teammate Neben the only rider within realistic striking range. Barring accident, the only big classification battle should be between Australians Tiffany Cromwell (AIS Australia Women’s Cycling) and Corset for third place.

Result stage 5
1. Shelley Evans (USA) US National Team
2. Ruth Corset (Aus) Nashua
3. Liu Xin (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling-China
4. Kaytee Boyd (NZl) New Zealand National Team
5 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) AIS Australia Women’s Cycling
6. Nicole Whitburn (Aus) Prime Estate
7. Masami Morita (Jap) Japan National Team
8. Laura Luxford (Aus) Australia NTID Team
9. Sara Mustonen (Swe) Hitec Products UCK
10. Mel Burke (NZl) Penny Cycling Team

Standings after stage 5
1. Shelley Evans (USA) US National Team
2. Amber Neben (USA) US National Team @ 6s
3. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) AIS Australia Women’s Cycling @ 35s