Hunter retains Mzansi lead

Hartbeespoort - Argentine Mauro Richeze of the Nippo-De Rosa team sprinted to his second straight stage victory, with South African Robert Hunter retaining his overall lead, in the penultimate leg of the five-day Mzansi Tour in Hartbeespoort on Saturday.

Richeze completed the 166km stage in 4:02:43 to edge out Hunter, leading the SA National Team, who retained his overall advantage of nearly six minutes over Frenchman Julien Antomarchi (La Pom Marseille).

South African David Maree, of the Tasol GT team, retained the King of the Mountain jersey, while countryman JC Nel of the MTN-Qhubeka Feeder team remained unchallenged as the best young rider on the tour.

Hunter, leading the SA National Team, kept his grip in the points classification.

Earlier, the route for the fourth stage was changed at the last minute due to safety concerns.

Tanya Hartford, a director of Echelon Events, said the Tshwane Metro had not provided the required support to guarantee the safe passage of the riders through Pretoria.

"It is a pity that we had to move the finish but in the interest of safety we had no choice," Harford said.

The stage could no longer finish at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, and instead started and finished in Hartbeespoort.

Results and standings after the fourth stage of the Mzanzi Tour cycle race in Hartbeespoort on Saturday:

1. Mauro Richeze (Nippo-De Rosa) 4:02:43
2. Robert Hunter (SA National Team) same time
3. Nolan Hoffman (Tasol GT) st
4. Calvin Beneke (MTN-Qhuneka Feeder) st
5. David Maree (Tasol GT) st
6. Neil McDonald (FedGroup Itec) st
7. Jason Bakke (La Pomme Marseille) st
8. Theo Reinhardt (Rad-Net Rose) st
9. Shaun-Nick Bester (Westvaal-BMC) st
10. Herman Fouche (Team Bonitas) st

General classification:

1. Robert Hunter (SA National Team) 16:48:33
2. Julien Antomarchi (La Pomme Marseille) +5:56
3. Fortunato Baliani (Nippo-De Rosa) +6:02
4. Ian McLeod (FedGroup Itec) +6:05
5. Paul Van Zweel (EuropcarSA) +6:11
6. David Maree (Tasol GT) +8:00
7. Neil MacDonald (FedGroup Itec) +8:49
8. Dylan Girdlestone (Westvaal BMC) +13:39
9. Antoine Lavieu (La Pomme Marseille) +13:55
10. James Perry (Tasol GT) 16:08

Jersey holders:

Overall leader: Robert Hunter (SA National Team)
King of The Mountain: David Maree (Tasol GT)
Young rider: JC Nel (MTN Qhubeka Feeder)
African rider: Robert Hunter (SA National Team)
Points classification: Robert Hunter (SA National Team)