Neben takes over after TT win in New Zealand Tour

American Amber Neben moved into the overall lead at the Tour of New Zealand on Friday, powering through the 11-kilometer fourth stage individual time trial to take the leader’s jersey from U.S. teammate Shelly Evans.

Neben, the 2008 world time trial champion, covered the route in 17:11, finishing ahead of second-placed Evans who clocked 17:35. Australian Tiffany Cromwell (AIS) finished third at 17:48.

The time trial was the second stage of the day, which began with an 87km road race from Palmerston North to Ashhurst and back.

Neben said the U.S. team goal is to retain the yellow jersey. “We do not care who has it, just that the team does,” she told VeloNews.

“The team has been fantastic. We are riding as one unit. We are winning together. Everyone has been a part,” she said.

Down to the wire

The road race was punctuated by a four-woman break that left the main field at 30km and stayed off the front for most of the stage. Driven by a U.S. national team determined to protect Evans’ hold on the jersey, Australian Irene Digenis (Prime Estate) and New Zealanders Yvette Hill-Willis (Litespeed), and Handy Rentals riders Gayle Brownlee and Sia Svendsen were nearly caught at the line by a hard-charging peloton.

While the four held on to take top honors in the stage, Evans led the peloton across the line less than a second behind the escapees. Digenis took the win, followed by Hill-Willis and Brownlee for second and third.

The three celebrated their first-ever appearances on the podium of a UCI-sanctioned event.

The afternoon’s time trial further solidified the U.S. team’s control of the podium, something Neben said was far more important to her than winning the race individually.

“If (the leader’s jersey) stays on my shoulders, obviously it’s fun to win, but for us we pride ourselves on being a team so if we win, it’s the USA who wins.”