The three time defending champion Hayden Roulston has pulled out of cycling's Tour of Southland during a wind-ravaged second stage, which ended with Nelson's Jack Bauer reaching the top of Bluff Hill.
The 82 kilometre stage was stopped after more than 40 riders crashed on a bridge just outside Wallacetown, although the main contenders, including Roulston, avoided the pileup
With the bridge blocked and about half the field unable to continue the leading riders went on before being recalled.
But in that time Roulston was involved in another crash, injuring his knee and getting into the team van, ending his tour.
The American Floyd Landis had bike problems and finished in the bunch at the start of his comeback two years after being stripped of his Tour de France title for positive doping tests.
Bauer finished the three kilometre climb ahead of Heath Blackgrove and Michael Vink.
