Stage 3 - Masterton Criterium (1 hour plus 3 laps - 45.2kph average)

After down time, coffee and red-bull at Solway, we rode off as a team to the criterium. This would have to be the easiest criterium this tour has presented in the four years I've done it - over half the field finished! Not one team dominated although Zookeepers tended to have someone up the road constantly.

The big news is that Joshua rolled through the finish line for 3rd! A brief interview:

Odlin: so how good do you feel?
Josh: I'm happy to have made a podium. Still looking for a win somewhere, happy to have a good start to the tour.
Odlin: so where are you going to go looking?
Josh: there's a lot of options. You never know what's going to happen in a long stage... today, tomorrow, what's happening on the last day? A damn hard crit - you never know...
Odlin: who do you think is going to win the tour?
Josh: Rolly (Hayden Roulston - Zookeepers). Especially if he drives a break-away today.
Odlin: how do you see yourself doing on G.C.?
Josh: I'm sitting 10th (U23). So top 5 U23.
Odlin: finally do you believe in a diet of apples only during rest days is necessary?
Josh: No. 2-minute noodles.