Stage 1: Rochdale-Blackpool

Looks like a day for the sprinters, and I expect Sky will make sure it is…

Stevenson get in the first break of the tour on this rainy day outside Rochdale

The peloton aren’t too happy about it though and Orica – GreenEdge organize the hunt early on.

When the break is caught An Post - Sean Kelly take over in front of the peloton leading everyone down the winding roads of the English countryside.

Looks like something have gone into the Swedes today as Ludvigsson attack with 67 km to go.

No one seems to be willing/able to catch him but the chase leave small holes in the peloton behind nonetheless.

Tobias gets the mountain jersey for his trouble, but in the end the peloton is coming to fast from behind.

With 5 km to go Borry is 28 seconds ahead of the peloton. With nice broad roads we should be able to catch him.
For some reason Jebjerg refused to take Duques wheel when the sprint opens. Geraint Thomas finds a nice spot in the Columbians wheel.

Thor does very well, in spite of the terrible leadout job by Jebjerg, while the audience is so thrilled of the home victory that they can’t even move!

Stage 2: Stoke-on-Trent



As expected the start is very chaotic. The riders failed to hit the break so I told them to put the pressure on in front of the peloton instead. Let’s see if we can shake someone.

When we approach the mountain sprints the peloton is down to 99 riders. After the sprint we are down to 22 riders in the front group. Looks like our strategy is starting to have an effect…

30 km to go and back on flat terrain the peloton has grown to 63 riders once again.

The other teams seem quite content to let us do all the work, so with 10 km to go I tell Bak to attack and everyone else to lay off…
The move wasn’t quite as successful as I had dreamt it and with 3 km to go Lars is brought back in.

Once again a brilliant day for the King of Wales

Stage 3: Newton-Swansea



Riis gets in the early break and wins the first KOM of the day.

With 100 km to go Orica – GreenEdge have had enough and the break is no longer.

30 km to go and Stevenson is in front with C. Jones. Four minutes ahead of the favourites.

20 km to go and Sky have been forced to the front as Stevenson is in the virtual lead with a margin of almost three minutes.
With the chance of taking the GC lead I told Christofer to give it all he head – no matter if it cost the stage.

5 km to go and the duo enter the last climb with a lead of nearly two minutes.

As expected Jones get rid of Stevenson short before the finish.

Hushovd attack from the favourites group on the decent hoping to shake Geraint Thomas.

Thor is somewhat successful as he is now 2nd behind Stevenson in the GC

Stage 4: Minehead-Teignmouth


Just because we have the GC lead it doesn’t mean we’re done chasing glory so Jesper Hansen went in the early break hoping to win back the mountain jersey to the team after Jones stole it yesterday.

First hill and first KOM win.

Same story on the second hill only this time he didn’t have to fight as hard. By now the break has built a lead of almost ten minutes to the peloton.

Since Jesper is the by far best placed rider in the break it’s not really a problem for us that they have gotten such a big lead so Endura has taken the lead in the peloton and with decent effect. With 80 km to go only 52 riders are left in the peloton and the gap has been reduced to 5 and a half minute.

As we go under the 20 km mark the break is officially past. Several other riders try to revive it, but both Sky and we are determined to get a sprint finish.

The attacks just keep coming and with less than 2 km to go a small group has gotten a small gap on a steep hill no team organizes a hunt but Thor goes on the attack to catch them.

We never quite get hold of them in spite of a strong finish by Hushovd and in stead the locals get another home victory.

What used to be a peloton is torn into a bunch of smaller groups, but my guys did well and now we only lack the points jersey for complete domination…