Michael Vink is one step closer to winning his third Tour of Southland

The Canterbury cyclist blitzed the field in the stage eight 13 kilometre time trial around Winton with a time of 15 minutes and 31 seconds, setting a new record.

Vink smashed Hamish Bond's time of 15 minutes and 51 seconds set in 2018.

With one event remaining, Vink holds a three minute and 45 second lead in the general classification.

The final event is a 77k ride from Winton to Invercargill, which gets underway at 1.30 this afternoon.