Matthews claims bunch sprint win in New Zealand
Michael Matthews has sprinted home for the win in the fourth stage of the Tour of Wellington.
Matthews finished the 150km Gladstone circuit course in a time of 2hr48min58sec ahead of Joel Pearson (AUS - Genesys Wealth Advisors) with Charles Dionne (CAN - Fly V Australia) in third place.
Despite two breakaway attempts the peloton regrouped in the final kilometres to set up a sprint finish.
Matthews continues to lead the Best Young Rider U23 classification and is sitting in fifth place overall, two minutes behind leader Michael Torckler (NZL) with one stage remaining.
Stage 4 Result
1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco Skins Team 2:48:58
2 Joel Pearson (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:00:04
3 Charles Dionne (Can) Fly V Australia 0:00:06
4 Daniel Barry (NZl) Benchmark Homes Team 0:00:10
5 Peter Latham (NZl) Benchmark Homes Team
6 Malcolm Rudolph (Aus) Jayco Skins Team
7 Mark Frendo (Aus) Shortis Cycle
8 Mark Langlands (NZl) R+R Team
9 Dale Scarfe (Aus) Team Mcdonagh Blake-Witness
10 Jason Christie (NZl) R+R Team
General Classification after Stage 4
1 Michael Torckler (NZl) Cardno Team 12:37:33
2 Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Porsche 0:00:05
3 Jay Thompson (RSA) Fly V Australia 0:01:31
4 Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Team Solway 0:01:51
5 Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco Skins Team 0:02:00
6 Peter McDonald (Aus) Drapac Porsche 0:02:11
7 Jeremy Yates (NZl) Team Solway 0:02:20
8 Jai Crawford (Aus) Fly V Australia 0:02:32
9 George Bennet (NZl) Cardno Team 0:02:34
10 Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:02:38
