Featonby captured his first UCI stage victory on his way to a second-place finish in New Zealand’s premier international road cycling event on Sunday.

He finished just over a minute behind overall winner Aaron Gate.

The mountainous 142-kilometre fourth stage on Saturday was regarded as the toughest of the tour – finishing on top of a five-kilometre climb which had to be completed twice.

A breakaway by Gate and Jay Vine opened up a minute gap at the base of the last climb, with Featonby in an 11-man chasing group.

However, the Border product made his move three kilometres from the finish, leaving the group and catching and passing the two leaders with a kilometre to go to win his first UCI international race stage.

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“I really backed myself,” Featonby said after the breakthrough result.

“My team really backed me to come here and win this stage.

“I knew the guys had about a minute on me before the bottom and it was pretty comfortable.

“James Oram got up the road and I aimed to get him first, then I saw the guys 500 metres up the road and thought ‘you beauty’.

“I gave it everything and I won, so I’m absolutely stoked.”

Featonby went into Sunday’s final stage one minute and nine seconds behind tour leader Gate and a just six seconds in front of third-placed Vine.

Despite a few anxious moments, he held on for his biggest result to date.

The UCI 2.2 race also carries valuable points to move Featonby up the world rankings.

His attention shifts to the Sun Tour starting at Phillip Island on Wednesday, which features a brutal stage from Cape Schank to the top of Arthurs Seat on Saturday.