It was a bitter-sweet day for the PowerNet team on day three of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland today.

PowerNet, with defending champion Josh Burnett on the books and a target on its back, managed to bank its first stage win of the week when Taupo’s Kiaan Watts sprinted his way to victory on the Te Anau lakefront.

Watts’ second stage win in his seventh Southland tour saw him move into the overall lead, but his team were also made to work hard throughout the 148km stage from Riverton and lost key rider Ollie Jones after he crashed heavily and had to be taken to Southland Hospital.

Stage winner Kiaan Watts celebrates with teammate and defending champion Josh Burnett before wearing the tour leaders' orange jersey. Photo: Supplied

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Watts has been in good form this week, with PowerNet finishing second in the team time trial before he finished third in the street race and second on the Gore stage.

He was part of a big breakaway group which did its best to stay away today, and then found his way to the front again with George Jackson (Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project) after they caught leaders William Heffernan (Macaulay Ford-Good Tech Team) and Luke Burns (Couplands-Cycling Tom Cycling Team) after the Blackmount hillclimb.

“It was just chaotic right from the start, lots of people jumping, breaks going back,” Watts said.

“I think it was a hard stage for everyone, no matter where you finished, so I’m glad I managed to finish it off.”

The four-strong break had a 1min 40sec lead over the peloton as they turned with 20km to go at Manapouri. While all four riders had different agendas for the stage finish, they were coordinated enough to stay away until the end.

“I didn’t want the break to win, to be honest,” Watts admitted.

Tour of Southland Cyclists. Photo: Supplied

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“I was really concerned about Luke Burns being in the front with us because he’s a big threat on GC for Josh. The team was concerned about keeping him close so I just had to sit on and play the game a little bit. We are here to win the tour overall. The stage win is great, I’m stoked, but I’m also pleased we could keep GC close.”

In many ways the tour starts tomorrow for PowerNet, with two-time winner Burnett getting the chance to test his outstanding climbing legs against the rest of the field on the exhausting 6km ascent of the Remarkables ski field access road.

Only 61sec separates the top 10 riders in the general classification, with Burnett poised at 1min and 1sec in ninth place.

“It wasn’t an ideal day (today) for PowerNet, but it was the best it could have been,” Watts said.

“It’s a shame losing Ollie, he’s on his way back to Invercargill for scans so that’s a really big loss. Like always we are going to really throw the kitchen sink at it and really look after Josh. We’ll let him loose and see how good he can go up the climb.”

Meanwhile, James Gardner (Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project) continued a strong tour that he almost didn’t get to start.

Photo: Suppliled

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The big Dunedin cyclist crashed heavily when he clipped a pedal in Saturday’s national criterium championships. An x-ray later ruled out a broken shoulder and meant he was able to line up the next day with a sprained AC joint and a range of other war wounds.

He spent more than 100km riding through the pain in the breakaway on Monday and by the time he unclipped in Te Anau was leading in both the Sprint Ace and King of the Mountain jerseys.

“I’m super stoked. It’s definitely unpredictable how all this plays out. These jerseys have the potential to change many times throughout the week so I’m just enjoying my time with them.”

Australian rider Burns was rewarded for his efforts in the break with the Most Combative jersey, while his team mate Glenn Haden retained the over 35 jersey and compatriot Heffernan is the leading under 23 rider. Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project lead the teams classification.

Stage four of the rescheduled tour gets underway in Mossburn at 10.30am tomorrow.

Results available Here