There are so many landmark stages, so many ‘wow’ moments on the Pioneer Mountain Bike Stage Race that it is hard to single any out, but the climb over Ben Ohau must be in the conversation and it didn’t disappoint on stage four of the race from Christchurch to Queenstown.
The climb didn’t separate Watson and Son Manuka Honey (James Williamson and Scott Lyttle) and Imparables (Ibon Zugasti and Tommi Misser, Spain) - the two strongest teams, nor did it affect the strongest individual from the 4-Day-Traverse, with Manolo Zanella riding with the 7-Day-Epic leaders through to the finish to put an exclamation mark on what had already been a dominant display of riding from the hugely likeable Italian.
