New Zealand number one Anton Cooper and his Australian partner Dan McConnell have retained their lead in the Pioneer mountain bike race but only after a nail-biting Stage 3.
The stage saw the field go the 74 kilometres from Fairlie to Lake Tekapo, but with an elevation of 2,486 metres. The route was up the Albury range, crossing through creeks, native bush and up into alpine tussock.
Team Danton (Cooper and McConnell) finished the stage in 4h 11mins 14secs, with Team Kona (Cory Wallace and Spencer Paxson) just four seconds behind them.
In the general classification Team Danton have a total time of 9:35.08 - nearly 19 minutes ahead of the other Kona team of America's Barry Wicks and Canadian Kris Sneddon.
The Pioneer is a 569 kilometre race that started in Christchurch on Sunday and will finish in Queenstown this weekend.
Tomorrow takes in 111 kilometres from Lake Tekapo to Lake Ohau, a largely flat stage after the gruelling climbs on Stage 3.
Former race rivals Cooper and McConnell are favoured to win the race overall.
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