Special Anniversary For New Zealand Cycling’s Most Enduring Event

The past and the future will be celebrated as part of the 70th edition of the 2026 SBS Bank Tour of Southland.

New Zealand’s longest-running stage race features a prologue and eight stages across seven days and 920km of racing, beginning in Invercargill’s Gala St on Sunday, November 1.

Celebrations start with a Legends on Tour dinner on October 30 which will see 14 past champions across multiple eras reunite, including the likes of eight-time winner Brian Fowler, the most successful rider in Tour history, three-time winner Warwick Dalton, and two-time champions Jack Swart and Graeme Miller.

Racing gets underway two days later with a return to Queens Park and Gala St after January’s rescheduled event featured a number of storm-enforced course changes.

Tour of Southland race director Waine Harding paid credit to the volunteers who were backing up for a second time in 2026.

“We are really grateful for the many people who have given up their time for this event over the decades. We just couldn’t have a race and we certainly wouldn’t be celebrating 70 years without them,” he said.

“A platinum celebration is pretty special because it represents something rare, strong and durable. There’s no question this race has established an enduring bond with the Southland community and New Zealand cycling.”

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Seventeen teams and about 100 riders will take part in the anniversary race, including McCarthy Homes-QCF and Team Brennan Racing from Australia.

Cambridge’s Matthew Wilson (Advanced Personnel) returns from racing professional gravel and mountain bike series in the United States, aiming to move up a place on the final podium after twice finishing runner-up to Southland’s Josh Burnett.

While Burnett’s professional contract precludes him chasing a fourth Southland title in the past five years, he will be supporting from the team vans.

The peloton features a swathe of riders who have enjoyed success in Southland, including 2023 winner Dan Gardner, Zakk Patterson, Daniel Morton, Kiaan Watts and Ollie Jones.

The New Zealand men’s endurance track squad is well represented with newly-minted world championship silver medallist scratch racer Tom Sexton, a former stage winner, yellow jersey wearer and Sprint Ace champion, primed for racing on his home roads.

Former Sprint Ace and King of the Mountains winner George Jackson, and Southland’s Nick Kergozou, the 2025 Sprint Ace and multiple stage winner, Morton and Southlander Marshall Erwood could all feature during the week-long racing.

In order to keep the racing fresh, organisers have made some small but interesting course changes for 2026.

The first open road stage, Monday’s 166km beat from Invercargill to Gore, will skirt the Hokonuis and take in Waikaka before a new stage finish next to East Gore School.

Stage five from Invercargill to Lumsden will take in the White Hill windfarm for the first time, while the stage seven individual time trial has been moved to the outskirts of Winton.

Harding was excited to have Southland’s schools back in force after January’s event.

“The riders really missed not being cheered on by all the schools we travel past during the week,” Harding said.

“The support from schools, farm gates and businesses as the peloton goes past is a big part of why this race is talked about around the world.”

© Scoop Media

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