Young George Bennett (Tasman Glass) took an impressive win atop the mighty Takaka hill on stage three of the Tour de Vineyards today.  Enroute to victory Bennett had to put time between himself and the best bike riders in the country on the feared 16km slope as the race defining stage was once again hotley contested.  Chasing him all the way were the high powered duo of Hayden Roulston and Tom Findlay who finished 21 seconds back.  Roulston did enough to ride into the yellow jersey as the Tour enters it's final day tomorrow, but the margin of comfort is a slim one second back to Bennett.

In the women's race the classy Cath Cheatley took stage honors and wears the yellow jersey into the final day.  Cheatley has a comfortable 5.06 over top local rider Karen Fulton.

Masters racer Brad McFarlane M1 won the race to the top for the second year in a row and holds a commanding lead overall 3.44 in front of Masters 2 rider Nick Batt.