Transport Engineering / Open Country Dairy

12/10/2026

Due to rider injury we will be announcing rider #6 later this week!

06/10/2026

02/10/2026

🇦🇺 RIDER REVEAL #4 — BEN CARMAN

Well… we’ve crossed the ditch. 🇦🇺

Apparently there weren’t quite enough Kiwis willing to spend six days being blown sideways, rained on, climbing things unnecessarily and listening to Kergy, Hamish and Murphy talk absolute rubbish — so we’ve imported one. 😂

Welcome Ben Carman.

And this bloke has done some bike racing.

Ben comes to us with years of international racing in the legs, top-10 GC results overseas, a 2nd-place stage finish at Tour de la Guadeloupe, and time wearing the climbers jersey at the Tour de Langkawi.

In other words: seasoned, hard as nails and very bloody race smart.

He’s also apparently partial to a long breakaway — which could be extremely useful when the rest of the team are busy discussing if they locked their accommodation, who has the keys…and who is sorting ice bath at the end of stage... 😂

Ben brings exactly what you want at the Tour of Southland: experience, exceptional race craft and the ability to keep making sensible decisions.

And, importantly, he won’t take up nearly as much room in the van as Hamish. 😂

There is, of course, one obvious concern.

He’s Australian. 🇦🇺

But nobody’s perfect and he will be addicted to our Open Country -Southern Sushi before the end of the Prologue and we reckon six days in Southland should sort that out. 😂

Welcome to the TES /Open Country family, Ben. We’re excited to have you onboard.

HAMISH ✅ KERGY ✅ LUCAS ✅ BEN ✅ ❓ ❓

Two seats left at the table… and the rubbish chat is already looking world class.

TOUR OF SOUTHLAND
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS | 1956–2026
Nick Kergozou De La BoessiereHamish Keast Lucas MurphyTour of SouthlandTransport Engineering / Open Country Dairy

26/09/2026

KEAST. KERGOZOU. MURPHY.

We can confirm these three have successfully passed the rigorous selection criteria required to pull on the TES x Open Country jersey for the 70th Tour of Southland.

Can ride a bike? ✅
Can survive six solid days on Southland roads? ✅
Team first? ✅
Solid mate? ✅
Able to give AND receive an unreasonable amount of rubbish chat for an entire week? Essential. ✅😂

Welcome back, boys.

Three names.
Three very different specimens.
Three seriously solid mates.

One jersey. One race. Six solid days on the roads of Southland.

These three have travelled around the world together chasing bike races — sharing team vans, airports, hotels, start lines, finish lines and collecting enough stories along the way that we’re probably better off not asking too many questions. 😂

They’ve raced together.
Won together.
Lost together.

They’ve watched each other crash — sometimes with huge consequences — and been there through the long road back.

They’ve celebrated the great days and stood beside each other on the days when life itself feels like one big hill climb.

That’s the serious bit.

Because anyone who knows these three knows there’s also a fairly healthy amount of nonsense holding this friendship together…

Hamish brings the rubbish chat.

Kergy brings the stick to keep poking the rubbish chat along.

And Murphy brings whatever is required to survive six solid days with the other two. 😂

They’ll happily take the mickey out of each other all week. No questionable decision or moment of weakness is likely to escape unnoticed.

But underneath all of that, they are fiercely loyal to each other.

They know when to stir each other.
They know when to shut up.
And they know when their mate simply needs someone beside him.

On the bike, it’s exactly the same.

If one has the legs, the others go to work.
If one is in the hurt box, the others are there.
If there’s a job to be done, they get it done.

There really is no “I” in this team.

And this November, they get to pull on that jersey together again for a pretty bloody special one…

🔥 THE SBS BANK TOUR OF SOUTHLAND 70th EDITION— 1956–2026. 🔥

We’ll save the individual rider bios, results and respectable cycling chat for closer to the Tour — when we’ll make our annual brief attempt at professionalism. 😂

For now, this one is simply about the boys.

KEAST. KERGOZOU. MURPHY.

Solid mates.
Fiercely loyal.
Team first. Always.

The jersey is ready.
The legs have a little more time.
And judging by these three…

the rubbish chat is already at race weight. 😂

THE BOYS ARE BACK.

And as for the next three riders still to be announced… 👀

Well, they clearly know exactly which team they want to be on. 😂

We just hope they’ve read the selection criteria — because being able to ride a bike is only part of it.

The rubbish-chat component is non-negotiable.

Six riders. Six days. One race.

24/09/2026

Remembering Murray Wilson

We were incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Murray Wilson.

Murray was a respected local businessman, but those who had the privilege of dealing with him will remember so much more than that. He was a genuinely gentle, kind and encouraging man — someone who made time for people, listened and quietly supported his community.

Murray continued the long-standing support of the George Wilson Invercargill–Waikiwi Bike Race, following the many years of sponsorship provided by his much-loved dad, Mick. That ongoing commitment reflected not only his connection to the event, but also his generosity and belief in supporting local sport and the wider community.

More recently, while working in another role and reaching out to local businesses for support of the Tour of Southland Bluff Hill stage, we approached Murray to support he never hesitated and this iconic stage is still sponsored by his company Back Country Cuisine. Murray was one of those people who reminded you just how special the Southland business community is.

There was no fuss or fanfare — just a willingness to listen, encourage and help support events that mean so much to our region.

Those interactions may sometimes seem small at the time, but they are the ones you remember. Kindness, generosity and the way someone makes you feel leave a legacy far greater than any business achievement.

Murray was one of the good ones.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Yvonne, Murray’s family and colleagues, along with all those in our community who knew and respected him.

Rest easy, Murray. You will be remembered with enormous respect and affection.

14/09/2026

💚🚴 70 YEARS OF THE TOUR OF SOUTHLAND…

With the 70th Edition of the Tour of Southland getting closer, we’ve been having a little wander down memory lane…

And what a collection of memories we have. 😂

Over the years, so many riders have pulled on our team colours — some young and slightly terrified, some considerably more experienced, some who probably wondered halfway up the Remarkables exactly what they had agreed to… and plenty who have come back and done it all again, which perhaps says more about cyclists than it does about us. 😂

This little slideshow is a celebration of all of them.

The riders, managers, mechanics, helpers, supporters and the many characters who have become part of our Tour family over the years. To the Southland community, sponsors and the many volunteers that ensure the tour continues - thank you.

There have been huge highs — including the unforgettable year Michael Vink took the overall Tour of Southland victory for our team. A pretty special moment that will forever be part of our history. 💚

And amongst all the happy memories, there is someone who is always very much with us.

Michael Griffin — Harcourts. ❤️

A great supporter of cycling, our team and the Tour, and someone we continue to remember whenever we roll out for another edition. Some people leave a mark on a team that time simply doesn’t erase.

And now… here we go again.

For the 70th Edition, a certain Southland lad is returning with a little bit of history dangling in front of him.

Nick “Kergy” Kergozou.

Kergy is currently equal on the record for Sprint Ace jerseys — so naturally we’ve decided the obvious solution is to bring him back and see if he can pinch another one. 😂💚

Imagine it…

A Southland boy.
The 70th Tour of Southland.
On his home roads.
Chasing the record for the most Sprint Ace jerseys.

No pressure, Kergy. 😏😂

And Hamish Keast is back too.

Because apparently fracturing himself during the Tour in January wasn’t enough to put him off.

Most normal people would tick that experience off and find a nice safe hobby.

Hamish has chosen to enter again. 🤦‍♀️😂

There is, however, a longer-term plan brewing…

Hamish has just one more year to wait until younger brother Ollie is old enough to ride the Tour alongside him.

Two Keast boys in the Tour of Southland peloton.

Excellent.

Can’t see that being stressful for their mother AT ALL. 😳🍷😂

But that is what makes this race so special.

Riders come and go. Young riders become experienced ones. Teammates become lifelong mates. There are wins, crashes, jerseys, stories that improve considerably with age… and people we never forget.

70 Editions.

What an incredible milestone for the Tour of Southland — and what a privilege it has been for our little team to play a part in its story.

To everyone who has worn our colours over the years — this slideshow is for you. 💚

And to the class of the 70th…

Here we go again. 🚴💨

23/08/2026

Final 19 laps of Lily and Neve’s mado …crashes galore and dubious decision by Commisaire to let the Italian girl who on her 3rd crash and second long stop to race resume….A wonderful 7th place - World Champs completed. Have entire 80 laps of carnage recorded 😳

22/08/2026

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