Roulston critical of race officials

NZPA ©

Top New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston has criticised a decision by officials to halt racing in yesterday's Tour of Southland after a major pile-up halfway through the second stage.

United States-based New Zealand professional Heath Blackgrove, 13th after the prologue and second in the climb to the top of Bluff Hill in the 82.6km second stage, wears the yellow jersey.

More than 40 riders were brought down in the crash midway through the stage. Among them was Roulston, subsequently forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.

Roulston, who was chasing a fourth straight victory in the event, pulled out after being hit from behind by a rider during a neutralised section of the stage following the crash.

Racing initially continued while damage from the crash was being assessed, although officials halted the race further up the road.

While the race was being shut down, Roulston and Gordon McCauley were struck from behind by Christchurch rider Allan Williams, who had continued to race, the Southland Times said today.

"It's disappointing that my race is over because of a decision the commissaires (race officials) made," Roulston said. "It was just chaos -- commissaires just stopping in the middle of the road. No one knew what was happening."

Roulston said yesterday's decision was disappointing.

"It's bike racing, there's crashes -- you just don't stop bike races for crashes."

Chief commissaire Peter Tomlinson (Australia) defended the decision to neutralise the stage, saying it wasn't unusual for a race to be neutralised for safety or sporting reasons.

He said more than half the field were either involved in the original crash or caught up behind it, along with the support vehicles and medical personnel.