Youngster Josh Atkins shakes off shivers to win

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RESPLENDENT ON HIS THRONE: Tour of Southland champion Josh Atkins enjoys his success in Invercargill yesterday.

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Josh Atkins, of Christchurch, endured a nervous final day on the Tour of Southland yesterday before riding his way to the yellow jersey on a shortened last stage.

Understood to be the youngest winner of the 55-year event and the first under-23 rider since 2001 to claim the title, the 19-year-old, who rides for Lance Armstrong's Trek Livestrong team in the United States, fended off the challenge of several contenders to reach Invercargill with his lead intact.

The penultimate stage, a 13km individual time trial at Winton, was cancelled after snow fell during the morning and there was some thought given to scrapping the entire final day of the race.

More snow and rain made for an uncomfortable finish for a battered peloton.

"I woke up and all I could do was laugh when I saw the weather," Atkins said.

"Out there today I felt good and it might have been an easier run into the afternoon stage if there was a time trial because I was feeling good."

Having to endure a morning of uncertainty had made life difficult, Atkins said.

"Probably the best way to say it is I was shitting my pants really. I wasn't looking forward to it, I was nervous, I was just really jittery."

Atkins assumed the lead in the tour on Thursday after defending champion Hayden Roulston withdrew early in the 180km stage from Te Anau to the Crown Range suffering from a kidney infection.

Atkins won the stage to take the yellow jersey and then asked his team of all under-23 riders to help him defend it.

With a squad made up of riders better known for their exploits on the track - Shane Archbold, Tom Scully, Alex Frame, Cam Karwowski and Myron Simpson - there were question marks over whether they would be able to hold off the challenges of their more senior rivals.

"I've won the tour but I wouldn't have done it without Shane, Myron, Cam, Alex and Tom Scully. It was all their work that brought me to the line in yellow," Atkins said.

Archbold said helping Atkins to win the yellow jersey was a great feeling.

"To me it's more rewarding for someone else to have a result than me have a result. There's always swings and roundabouts and there'll be more helping team-mates than getting results yourself during your career," Archbold said.

With his team delivering him safely back to Invercargill, Atkins banked a 57sec win over fellow under-23 rider Patrick Bevin with Tim Gudsell a further 2sec back in third place.

Bevin won the final stage from Invercargill to Winton ahead of King of the Mountains winner Joe Chapman and New Zealand track representative Marc Ryan to secure second spot in both the general and under-23 classifications.

- © Fairfax NZ News