BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Odlin amongst leaders in New Zealand classic road cycling tour

SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Paul Odlin was one of six leading riders separated by just thousandths of a second after the opening prologue of the New Zealand Cycle Classic in Palmerston North today. 

19-year-old Australian Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisors) won the opening seven kilometre individual time trial in nine minutes and 28 seconds to take the tour’s yellow jersey in his first international race. 

The top six riders all clocked 9min 28sec, firming up pre race predications the tour will be closely fought. 

Christchurch rider Michael Vink (Mico-Protrain) was the highest ranked New Zealander, placing second. He finished ahead of Damien Howson (Jayco-AIS, Australia), Nick Aitken (Jayco-AIS, Australia) SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Odlin, Joseph Cooper (Ricoh, Wellington) and Bike NZ’s Sam Bewley, with the top seven riders separated by less than a second. 

Tomorrow’s second stage is a 143 kilometre loop starting and finishing in Palmerston North. 

Provisional results, Stage 1, NZ Cycle Classic, Palmerston North, 7.1km time trial: Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisors, Australia) 9.28.180, 1; Michael Vink (Mico-Protrain) 9.29.233, 2; Damien Howson (Jayco-AIS) 9.29.280, 3.