SBS Bank Tour of Southland Rescheduled for 2026
29/10/2025 - Following the recent postponement of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland due to the State of Emergency facing the Southland region, Cycling Southland is pleased to announce that the 69th edition of this iconic event will now take place from 18th to 24th January, 2026.
The Tour of Southland committee has worked tirelessly over the past 24 hours to bring together all the elements to allow the race to be rescheduled.
A number of factors were taken into account; including accommodation availability, the international cycling calendar, other major Southland events, and traffic management planning, all of which needed to align to make the event viable.
Cycling Southland President Julian Ineson said the organisation was acutely aware of the importance of providing clarity to teams and stakeholders as early as possible.
“Teams, sponsors, and volunteers all rely on certainty to plan their involvement, and we wanted to ensure that any decision was made with both care and urgency. The Tour is an integral part of the Southland sporting calendar, and we’re committed to delivering another outstanding event in 2026.”
Tour Director Waine Harding said he was pleased that an alternative solution had been found to allow the Tour to proceed.
“The Tour of Southland holds a special place in New Zealand cycling, and it was important to explore every possible option to keep the event on the calendar. I’m delighted we’ve been able to find a pathway forward that supports riders, teams, and the wider Southland community.”
The rescheduled event will also create a unique milestone for the region, with the SBS Bank Tour of Southland set to be held twice in 2026, once in January for the rescheduled 69th edition, and again in its traditional November slot to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this prestigious race.
Cycling Southland also acknowledges the continued support of SBS Bank,whose partnership has been instrumental in the ongoing success and growth of this much-loved event.
SBS Bank chief executive Mark McLean said it was great to have the Tour re-scheduled so quickly, and to be able to give some certainty to everyone involved.
“We appreciate the extensive efforts of the Tour committee over the past few days as they worked through the various implications and logistics. We also acknowledge that many households in the region are still impacted by the recent weather event, and encourage any impacted SBS Members to reach out for support from the bank.”
TOUR OF SOUTHLAND POSTPONED DUE TO STATE OF EMERGENCY
27/10/2025 - Cycling Southland has made the difficult decision to postpone the SBS Bank Tour of Southland in the wake of last week’s unprecedented regional weather event.
With resources across Southland being prioritised as part of the ongoing State of Emergency, particularly traffic management services, organisers have opted to postpone the race, which would have run from November 2 to 8.
Cycling Southland president Julian Ineson said the organisation had been liaising with a range of stakeholders, including sponsors, funders, local councils and PowerNet and had taken that advice on board.
“This has been a really tough call to make, but we believe it’s the right one given the severity of the damage across Southland and the fluid nature of the clean up,” he said.
“These are exceptional circumstances, but we know how hard Southlanders are doing it at the moment and getting services restored has to be the priority. We will regroup and look at what’s required to find an alternative date for the event.”
Organisers had looked at a range of options to see if the race could be run under the current conditions, but had prioritised the needs of the wider community and the safety of riders, Ineson said.
Tour Director Waine Harding said while a tremendous amount of work had gone into preparing for this year’s race, there was a greater call on resources at the moment.
“There are a lot of moving parts to the event and we will let everyone know as soon as we can regarding future information about the race.”
SBS Bank chief executive Mark McLean said while it was disappointing not to go ahead as scheduled, as principal sponsor they understood and supported the decision, and that the priority needed to be the wellbeing of Southland communities at this time.
ENDS
MEDIA RELEASE
3rd September 2025
2025 SBS Bank Tour of Southland Unveils Fresh Course Shake-Up
The 2025 SBS Bank Tour of Southland is set to deliver a thrilling week of racing, with a reshaped course that blends tradition with innovation. Running from 2nd–8th November, the 69th edition of Australasia’s longest-running stage race will test riders’ tactics and endurance like never before as they battle for the coveted SBS Bank Tour leader’s jersey.
After several years of stability, organisers have re-ordered the stages and introduced new elements to the classification battles, ensuring teams must think strategically from day one.
Stage Highlights:
Alongside the course revamp is the introduction of increased points and time bonuses. The Jesco’s King of the Mountains will see extra points awarded on both Category 1 and 2 climbs which will make the polka-dot jersey battle fiercer than ever.
Whilst the fight for the Harcourts Sprint Ace sees the introduction of the ‘Golden Kilo’. This new feature will offer up to 9 bonus seconds within a 1 kilometre section of road if a rider was to win all three of the sprints on offer. This sort of offering could encourage bold attacks from both general classification contenders seeking a buffer before the mountains and those chasing the green sprint ace classification. There will also be an increase in other intermediate bonus sprints across the week which will force teams to carefully manage breakaways and rival moves.
Tour Director Waine Harding said the changes are designed to keep riders – and fans guessing, “The reshaped course and revised points system will demand tactical thinking from every team. We expect the fight for orange, and for every jersey, to be more unpredictable than ever.”
With a rich legacy and a new design, the 2025 SBS Bank Tour of Southland promises to be one of the most captivating editions yet – a must-watch for riders, supporters, and cycling fans across Australasia.
MEDIA RELEASE
15 May 2025
SBS Bank renews SBS Bank Tour of Southland for a further two years SBS Bank and Cycling Southland have renewed their partnership with the SBS Bank Tour of Southland for a further two years.
This will take them through to the 70th anniversary Tour in 2026. SBS Bank has been the naming rights sponsor of the iconic Southland event since 2012.
SBS Bank Group Chief Executive Mark McLean said, “We’ve been right behind the Tour for the past 13 years and it’s great to see its growth into one of New Zealand’s largest, toughest and most prestigious cycling events.
The Tour is a fantastic showcase of all the volunteers, sponsors and local businesses who come together to ensure the SBS Bank Tour of Southland is an exceptional event that captures the imagination of locals and visitors alike. We’re proud to be continuing our longstanding relationship with the Tour.”
President of Cycling Southland Julian Ineson said, “The SBS Bank Tour of Southland is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s sporting calendar and a proud launchpad for many of our country’s top cycling careers.
We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding support of SBS Bank, whose commitment to this iconic event continues through to the 70th edition in 2026. Their partnership has been instrumental in ensuring the Tour remains a premier opportunity for emerging talent and a celebration of Southland’s enduring contribution to New Zealand sport."
Josh Burnett adds name to elite list with second SBS Bank Tour of Southland victory
9/11/2024 - Winning a second SBS Bank Tour of Southland in the space of three years is something that will take some time to sink in for Josh Burnett.
The 24-year-old produced a strong final day in the 68th edition of the Southland tour to add his name to an elite list of riders who have won the fabled event multiple times.
Burnett was third in the morning’s individual time trial in Winton, before his Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling teammates delivered him safely to Invercargill’s Queens Park over the final 77km stage in gale winds to collect the title.
The win sees him join the likes of Warwick Dalton, Tino Tabak, Stephen Cox, Jack Swart, Brian Fowler, Gordon McCauley, Hayden Roulston and Aaron Gate.
“I definitely don’t hold my name up there with those guys in my own head so it feels surreal when you put me on that list,” Burnett said.
“I was just so focused on the one goal today, I’m going to enjoy this and I’m sure a few more stats and comparisons will come up but those guys had some pretty good careers and I’ve got a bit more to show for myself.”
Burnett’s winning margin was 1min 57sec from Hamilton’s Matthew Wilson (Advanced Personnel), with Samuel Jenner (Central Benchmakers-Willbike) third at 3min 24sec.
Just as it was in 2022 when Burnett became the first Southlander to win their home tour since Doug Bath in 1994, locals turned out to support him over the final stage, with signs and strategically placed hay bales lining the route from Winton to Invercargill.
“I’m just so grateful for all the support. Everyone here in Queens Park and all the signs and everything. You kind of realise what being a Southlander means, it’s such a tight-knit community and just how passionate everyone is about sport.
“It was weird. It was almost less pressure from 2022 with the drought and the Doug Bath thing and a bit more pressure because a lot of people expected the same thing. A lot more riders were watching me so I had to be a lot more selective with when I went and what I did, but I had such a strong team and I basically sat on the back and climbed when I needed to and followed when I needed to.”
Burnett, who will join Spanish Pro Continental team Burgos BH next year, thanked his team for supporting him throughout the year as he looked to regain a professional contract after the demise of Black Spoke.
“They all sacrificed so much for me this week but there’s been plenty of times this year when we’ve ridden for different guys and a big part of this team is everyone getting their opportunities because it’s a development team.”
Australian rider Graeme Frislie (Quality Foods Southland) won the bunch sprint in Gala St to claim the stage eight victory after Southlander Tom Sexton had earlier looked to go solo as the tour lapped Queens Park.
“It’s been a really fun week out here racing, the weather has thrown out a few challenges but it’s really nice to come out here and repay the boys for their efforts during the week with a win,” Frislie said.
Fellow Australian Declan Trezise (Transport Engineering Southland-Deep South) came home safely in the bunch to claim the under 23 classification, finishing fourth overall.
Burnett also won the King of the Mountain jersey, while Bailey O’Donnell (Holmes Solutions) took out the Sprint Ace classification and PowerNet won the teams classification.
Southland’s Luke Macpherson won the over 35 classification, which was dedicated to the late Ken Lasenby, a beloved figure in New Zealand cycling.