@Sutty: Thanks Going to be difficult to keep it though
@Ian: Not really. It was a tough route (just realised I had posted the wrong screenshot of the stage profile ) with some difficult climbs. Hard to chase the break with a 6 man team
13th September 2011 - Tour of Britain
(Cardiff - Swansea)
Despite being only stage 3, this is the Queen stage of the this year's Tour of Britain.
The peleton heads out of Cardiff towards Swansea, heading over Caerphilly Mountain and taking the coast road through Port Talbot to Swansea. Once in Swansea though, the peleton have to tackle 12 circuits of the city, taking in the cobble ascent of Constitution Hill on every pass.
The team plan today is just survive... I have no chance on the cobbles, so I can kiss goodbye to the Yellow jersey now. Isaac has a proven record on the Cobbles at an Under 23 level, so watch out for him.
Thanks to SportingNonsense for this stage. The official stage is bugged, so this has been inserted instead
Race Report
9km: It was awful weather in South Wales for the beginning of the stage, but that did not stop a large group of 11 riders breaking away.
19km: Heading towards the small first KoM sprint, a further 11 riders attacked, eventually formed a group of 22 up the road.
37km: At the base of Caerphilly Mountain, the break had over 4'33" on the peleton, and was looking far too dangerous for our liking.
40km: Climbing Caerphilly Mountain, and time for the British Television Broadcasters to try and rival the French! Here is a nice shot that would make Sutty proud to be Welsh!
53km: Descending off the Mountain, the break's lead was down to 2'33", and it looked like their organisation had fallen apart.
73km: Puncture! Just as the peleton is at full swing, I puncture. Luckily I am able get a replacement nice and quickly, and get back in the bunch.
89km: Reaching the edge of Swansea, we made the decision to attack with Isaac. He is good on the Cobbles, and if he could get clear on the finishing circuit, KoM points were also at stake.
102km: Isaac joined up with the breakaway as they hit a wet and rainy Swansea, hoping to have enough in the tank to kick again.
109km: Everything was brought back together as the race hit Constitution Hill, and it was with that Isaac made his move...
129km: Raching the KoM sprint, he had 1'23" over the remains of the peleton, and was even beginning to lap some of the back-markers.
134km: Thor Hushovd (Garmin) was the first of the favourites to show his hand and make a move.
136km: Albasini went with him, knowing that it is a good wheel to follow.
153km: As more riders were lapped, Hushovd and Michael were joined by Jen Voigt, who was looking at pulling back some time lost on stage 1.
173km: With only 2 laps remaining, Hushovd attacked again, and only Voigt could look at countering.
184km: But Hushovd is far too strong, and can't be pulled back. The World Champion takes a fine victory in Wales, taking the Overall lead in the process. I finished with a small of some established cobbled riders, 8'12" down on Hushovd.
14th September 2011 - Tour of Britain
(Minehead - Teignmouth)
The Tour heads to the South West, as the route takes them from Minehead to the home of the band Muse, Teignmouth.
This is the final difficult day of three, as the route goes over 3 classified climbs, before a tight hilly finish in Teignmouth.
The team's focus will be on Michael again today, as we try to improve his GC position. I will just try to hang on over the hills, and hope for a strong finish.
Race Report
13km: The first attacks went away as we climbed toward the frist KoM sprint of the day. It was a prestigious group that went away, including riders like George Hincapie (BMC) and Linus Gerdemann (Leopard).
32km: The group grew in size as they completed the circuit back into Minehead, and working well together, they comfortably built up a 4'32" lead.
41km: The peleton really did not seem interested in following, and very quickly the gap to the break was over 6'30".
64km: As we descended off the second climb, the moors lay ahead, and the HTC guys took over at the front.
89km: Back at the front, the break was beginning to split, as many of the riders couldn't follow the pace set.
98km: In fact, yet again, the pace of the peleton was too much for some riders as well, as it split on another small rise on the moors.
102km: Many big riders, including Johan Vansummeren (Garmin) and Under 25 leader Jelle Wallays (Topsport) missed the split, and frantically attacked trying to bridge the gap.
147km: As the remaining peleton approached Exeter, only 43" separated them from the escapees, and soon after the Intermediate Sprint, everything was back together.
161km: With 10km to the finish, we took the decision to attack with Tony Martin. He was low down on GC, so we hoped that he would be given some freedom by the leaders.
172km: However, he was pulled back with 3km to go, and as the peleton went up a small rise in Teignmouth, Greg van Avermaet (BMC) made his move, followed by Simon Gerrans (Sky).
174km: And the Belgian holds on for the win! His attack was a risk, but it paid off, as he come in ahead of GC leader Hushovd, with Gerrans taking 3rd. I come home 22" down on van Avermaet in 17th place.
15th September 2011 - Tour of Britain
(Tavistock - Glastonbury)
Stage 5 takes the peleton back across the moors, as the riders go from Tavistock to Glastonbury, famous for its annual Music Festival.
After a hard start to the day, the route flatten out towards the finish, meaning it will be a day for the sprinters.
The teams focus will be on the stage victory, where I hope to replicate my stage 1 triumph.
Race Report
7km: It was only a small group that got away at the beginning of the stage, and with all the rider over 20'00" down on GC, Garmin were happy to let them go.
12km: The group of 3 took the points on the first climb on the day, and on the descent, Matteo Tossato (SaxoBank) attacked trying to join up with them, with another group of four behind him.
28km: CRASH! US National Champion Joe Eldridge is brought down, luckily not taking anyone else down with him. It would a lonely day off the back of the pack for him today.
56km: Garmin led the peleton over the first half of the stage, as the break built up a lead of over 6'05".
85km: Reaching the halfway mark, I ordered Tony and Isaac to the front, in an attempt to pull the break back slightly.
101km: Heading over Exmoor, the break's gap peaked at its maximum of 7'36".
134km: With the peleton's pace at maximum, the gap tumbled, and as we hit the 45km to go mark, it was down to under 3'30".
158km: Tossato and Andy Fenn (AnPost) gave one last ditched attempt to stay clear, but it was in vain, as everything was back together with 20km remaining.
170km: Tony set the pace high enough to stop any further breakaways, and as we approached the finish, the lead out trains began to form.
176km: As the sprint began, HTC were in full control. I was looking in the prime position to tak ehte win, but Hushovd was looking sharp on my wheel...
179km: What a close finish! Hushovd takes the win by half a wheel width, as I have to settle for second!
16th September 2011 - Tour of Britain
(King's Lynn - Great Yarmouth)
We go from the west of England to the east of England for Stage 6, as we travel from King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth today, and it is certainly a stage for the sprinters.
Flat all day, the Intermediate Sprints outnumber the KoM sprint, and will most likely be a sprint finish for the peleton.
Today's task is the same as yesterday. Set everything up for the mass sprint, and I will look to take my second victory of this year's Tour of Britain
Race Report
4km: Three riders, including KoM leader James Moss, attacked at the start of the stage.
12km: A lead of 1'32" built up before a second wave attacks was triggered by Simon Gerrans, who was obviously wanting to make up for a disappointing home Tour for Sky,
27km: With a few dangerous riders, including Jakob Fuglsang, in the break, the peleton was keeping them on a tight lease.
33km: Most of the breakaway riders sat up, returning to the peleton, and it was a group of 8 men up the road, with another group of five behind.
45km: Garmin again took control of the peleton, allowing the break enough breathing space, without letting them get too far up the road.
96km: At the halfway stage, the break's lead peaked at 6'32", and that was the sign for the peleton to up it's pace behind.
132km: The break was reeled in very quickly, and soon the gap was down to 2'22", but suddenly Taylor Phinney attacked, hoping to put his time trialing skills to work to catch them.
165km: It was fruitless attack from Phinney. If anything, it was just an incentive for the peleton. He was like a carrot dangling in front of them, and everything was brought back together with 20km to go.
175km: Further attacks tried to disrupt the tempo of the peleton, but with the lead out trains forming, there was only going to be one way of ending this stage.
184km: As the sprints began, it was battle between Garmin and HTC. Who would come out on top?
185km: Metres from the line and it was a 4-way race for the victory. Who would take the win...?
186km: Victory for Cavendish!! Wow, that was tight on the line. Less than a wheel width separates myself and Hushovd in 4th!
Going to be difficult to keep it though
) with some difficult climbs. Hard to chase the break with a 6 man team
13th September 2011 - Tour of Britain 
