The Rotorua rider Clinton Avery has won 160km first stage of the cycle tour of Southland, but Hastings rider Jeremy Vennell holds the tour leaders yellow jersey.
Just 25 seconds separates the top 10 riders with Vennell's time of 4 hours, 30 minutes and 35 seconds giving him a narrow two second buffer over second placed Paul Odlin of Christchurch.
Avery is fourth overall.
Hayden Roulston who started the stage with the tour leader's yellow jersey after winning yesterday's prologue is in fifth spot 21 seconds behind Vennell.
