Josh Burnett has timed his finish to perfection to take out the 'Queen Stage' at this year's New Zealand Cycle Classic.
Josh Burnett surges to win stage three of 2023 NZ Cycle Classic. Photo: Dave Lintott/Lintott Photography
The Black Spoke rider's late surge helped him pip Dutchman Adne van Engelen metres from the line at the top of Admiral Hill on Friday, winning a third stage with more than 2000m of elevation.
Burnett's team-mate James Oram finished third to retain the leader's yellow jersey.
Fresh off winning the Tour of Southland in November, Burnett said it was good to tick off a UCI stage win and thanked his team for helping claw back what was a five-minute time gap.
"I just came around for the end and it was very good timing, but it was thanks to my team who rode hard all day to bring that break back."
The time gap opened up early in the race when Kiaan Watts, Bentley Niquet-Olden, Matthew Wilson and Richard Lawson formed a breakaway.
But at 113km Watts made the decision to slide back into the peloton and, soon after, so did Wilson, which left Niquet-Olden and Lawson out in front.
The peloton began to lift their work rate and slowly reeled the duo in, with Burnett getting himself into position before the final ascent up Admiral Hill.
Saturday's fourth stage was being held on the Miramar Peninsular in Wellington for the first time.
The fifth and final stage would be held in central Wellington, along Lambton Quay's "Golden Mile" on Sunday.