We start the Tour of Britain with a visit to the capital London, the peleton are greeted with some of the most iconic sights in the world as they head around a tight criteriam style stage.
The tower of Big Ben looms over the riders
It is pan flat today and a couple of Brits stand out as stage favourites in Luke Rowe and Ben Swift. The press have been attempting to goad Swift’s teammate Mark Cavendish into some sort of comment about his status in the race. As yet the Manx rider has kept tightlipped lets see how long that lasts.
It is not just about the Brits Maxime Vantomme of Highroad and Pokerstars fast German Eric Mohs are added to the list of favourites. However their teams will have to work hard as a series of attacks establish a nine strong breakaway.
Nine men speed around the circuits
The rider here are:
Ascani (Vespa), Bol (Mercedes), Howard (Milka), Martynenko (Wiggle), Barclay (Youtube), Sutherland (Bbox), Capacchi (Intesa), Vangheel (Falcon) and Ghyselink (Highroad).
Some good roulers here and they are being chased by Talbott (Bimbo Nutella), Tim Kennaugh (Pendletons) and Van Aelbroeck (Highroad) in a separate group of three. There are a total of ten, nine kilometre circuits and it makes it a difficult one for the peleton to calculate. The pace is high back there and the gap from the front nine back to the peleton with 50 to go is 2.55. The three inbetweeners are 50 or so seconds behind the front nine.
Leading the charge is Pokerstars – desperate to add to their stage wins tally.
Well known sprinters team Pokerstars do the bulk of the chase work
With four circuits (36km) to go they have the front nine pegged back to 2.17.
With three circuits (27km) to go they have the front nine back to 1.18 and they reel it in with 20km to go.
Along with 100% me, the team in green keep the pace high over the penultimate circuit and it is David Boucher who leads us through with one circuit remaining.
Boucher takes the bell – peleton massed together
Okay – trainspotters it is sprint carriage time – Wooop woooop!
Four trains for you to spot – Milka (driver Said Haddou), Pokerstars (driver Dan Hollaway), 100% Me (driver Adam Blythe) and Lego (driver Lequatre).
5.2km to go: Trainspotting – Which train will the others Choose?
Far left: Milka – Haddou, Forero, Abdullah and Forster
Pokerstars – Holloway, Mohs, Rowe, Vantomme, Hutorovich
100% Me – Blythe, Swift, JJ Haedo
(Pace Snake)
Lego – Lequatre, Ciolek
As the road thins, it is Blythe who moves up the fastest though on the far side the LEGO train is going quite nicely too. The Milka and Pokerstars trains are merging, meanwhile Gatto, Cavendish and Bozic are moving up too.
3.3 to go: Blythe powers forward
As they round a right hander the trains become stretched, Adam Blythe looks like he has put Swift in the perfect position here but threats from the likes of Ciolek and Mohs exist.
2.7km to go: 100% keep their shape rough the tight bend
Suddenly though Haddou drags Forero into the picture as they start to ramp up the speed. Oscar Gatto switches across with Cavendish to the Lego wheels with so many seemingly on the Pokerstars train. Bernie Eisal has moved onto the back of the Milka train.
2000m to go: Milka move forward
Blythe begins to look cooked, but Swift does not have the power to go past. Meanwhile Eric Mohs puts on the afterburners as does Ciolek to the right, they have riders on their wheels though. Rowe and Vantomme are up with Mohs, whilst Gatto and Cavendish are trying to make Cioleks. Milka meanwhile are holding strong with Eisel now on Forero’s wheel.
1500m to go: Swift loses power
Mohs continues to power on, but Rowe is looking to come around... but these two have Ciolek who is staying on well. Vantomme and Eisel are also challenging for the minor places.
800m to go: Mohs continues to hold his form
Head on shot and the British fans are willing the 3 time Giro stage winner Luke Rowe on. But the FBD Eire tour stage winner Eric Mohs is fighting hard.
Rowe is creeping up on Mohs here – can they see Ciolek?
Pedalstroke by pedalstroke Rowe is gaining, it is neck and neck. Ciolek looks just behind these two with Vantomme challenging him, Eisel is fading with Hutorovich and Cavendish looking at top tens.
200m to go: so close here
It is too close to call at the finish Mohs lead all the way down the last kilometre or so.
Rowe and Mohs in a photofinish
Eric Mohs is given the verdict by the panel – he looks like he won it by a tyrewidth. Still no dodgy decisions like what we have had in some other recent races here !
Ciolek gets third, then Vantomme and then Hutorovich.
