Kiwi takes lead in French cycle race

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New Zealand cyclist Pete Latham has taken the leader's yellow jersey into the second day of the AS-en-Provence Tour in France.

Latham, from Te Awamutu, led home the New Zealand team who won the team time trial at the start of the four-day tour which is the final hit out for the New Zealand track endurance squad before they go into final camp for next month's Commonwealth Games at New Delhi.

The New Zealand team recorded the fastest time for the 18km team time trial in Salon de Provence despite losing more than a minute fixing a mechanical problem with Marc Ryan's bike.

They clocked 21 minutes, 05 seconds with four riders - Latham, Ryan, Westley Gough and Aaron Gate - after an ill Myron Simpson fell off the pace early and Shane Archbold was dropped.

The team managed the hot conditions well against some strong French teams, starting fifth to last on the road.

After Simpson was dropped, Archbold (Timaru) took a corner too deep just after halfway and lost the back wheel and could not get back on.

Trouble struck when the handlebar extension on Ryan's bike came off and he was unable to take his turn in the lead, leaving the team pursuit powerhouses of Gough and Latham to drag the team home at over 50kph.

Tomorrow's second stage is 149km and the kiwis expect plenty of attacks from the local French teams.

Results, AS-en-Provence tour, stage 1 (18km team time trial): New Zealand 21min 05sec 1; AVC Aix En Provence at 7 seconds, 2; Martigues Sport Cyclisme at 18 sec, 3.

General classification, stage 1: Peter Latham (NZ) 21:05, 1; Westley Gough (NZ) same time, 2; Aaron Gate (NZ) same time, 3; Marc Ryan (NZ) same time, 4.

- NZPA