Scotland's Mark Stewart won the first UCI categorized stage race of 2022 and took the yellow jersey at the New Zealand Cycle Classic.

The Black Spoke team took control of the race by winning the opening team time trial by 22 seconds. Stewart won the fourth stage with a steep Te Wallau Hill finish, while teammate Regan Gough won the final stage around the capital.

George Bennett was part of the New Zealand national team that included Shane Archibald, but the UAE Team Emirates rider used this race as an early test of winter form before aiming for an early season peak in the UAE Tour supporting Tadej Pogacar The race was used as an early test of their winter form. Bennett tried to revitalize his race, finishing fourth overall with a time of 56 seconds.

Stewart told local media that he traveled to New Zealand for a month to meet his partner Emma Cumming in 2020, but ended up staying because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stewart won a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games points race but was subsequently removed from the Great Britain program. He quit racing, but found a renewed focus after watching the 2021 New Zealand Cycle Classic.

"Believe it or not, I've been here for a month," Stewart said, according to Stuff.

"I came here with a rucksack on my back for a month, and Cobid attacked me and dropped me on British Cycling.

"A year ago I ran this race. It wasn't in racing conditions, but it was one of my favorite races. What an experience to race around the capital. So I really wanted to come back next year and respect this race and try to win it. But it hasn't quite worked out as planned."

Stewart has secured a position with the Black Spoke Continental team for 2022 and hopes to race in Europe later in the season.

"What a day, it's been nine days, so it's a good start to my new job," he joked.

"If this is the start of the year, it's like we've set a standard for ourselves. But that's why players like me and Regan came in."