Lars Boom from Holland won the third stage of the Tour of Britain as Team Sky set the race alight over the hills of Staffordshire.
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Race Report
Lars Boom takes IG Markets Gold Jersey with Rabobank 1-2 on Stage Three
Former World Cyclo Cross Champion Lars Boom took victory on the uphill finish into Stoke-on-Trent city centre to pull on the IG Markets Gold Jersey, with a three second advantage over Mark Cavendish.
The Dutchman led home teammate and Under-23 World Champion Michael Matthews in an impressive one-two, on a day which helped shape the overall complexion of The Tour of Britain, as winds once again contributed to the action.
Behind the Rabobank duo came a quintet of Brits, led by Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish, the latter of whom relinquished his grip on the race lead, but kept hold of The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Jersey.
A decisive move by Team Sky, after around 72 kilometres of racing, split the peloton and caused the first real time gaps of the 2011 Tour of Britain, with the entire six-rider Sky making the front group.
Setting off from the Trentham Estate’s Italian Gardens, in much calmer conditions than 24 hours previously, riders were soon on the attack, most notably Sky’s Alex Dowsett the Yodel Sprints Jersey of Pieter Ghyllebert.
These attacks were reeled in, with a trio consisting of Andrew Fenn, Boy Van Poppel and the Skoda King of the Mountains Jersey of Russell Hampton, eventually going clear.
The group worked their way clear to mop up the honours at the opening intermediate Yodel Sprints in Stone and Uttoxeter and making their way through Staffordshire Moorlands, over the first Skoda King of the Mountains at Ramshorn, allowing Hampton to extend his lead in the classification.
With the stage passing over higher, exposed roads atop the Staffordshire Moorlands, conditions were ripe for a team to take control, and that is what Sky did, increasing the pace through the Feed Zone and splitting the peloton.
Mathew Hayman and Steve Cummings forced the pace, helped by HTC Highroad riders Lars Bak and Bernhard Eisel, creating a group of around 30 riders who quickly bore down on the leading trio.
The junction was made on the slopes of Gun Hill, with Jonathan Tiernan-Locke attacking in search of Skoda King of the Mountains points, a move swiftly covered by Hampton.
With Sky and HTC working hard on the front the chasing groups were never going to regain contact, eventually reaching the finish at over seven and twelve minutes respectively, ending the overall ambitions of the riders in each.
Twenty kilometres out of Stoke-on-Trent there was a surprise attack from British National Time Trial Champion Alex Dowsett, leaping clear of the leaders to ride away from the pack through Barlaston.
Dowsett’s lead lasted until the final roads into the city centre, eventually being caught on the drag up from Joiner’s Square. With the front group back together it set up a fast final couple of corners, with the Rabobank duo of Boom and Matthews leading the way up the incline to the finish.
“With 200 metres to go I managed to jump over (Steve) Cummings and (Geraint) Thomas and then the corners started so they couldn’t pass us anymore,†said Lars Boom. “My first aim was to pull for Michael (Matthews) and then I felt good so I am happy to win.
“We knew that you can’t bring HTC and Cavendish or the Sky boys to the finish. We knew we would have to surprise them, and we managed to do that.
“I know that it is always tricky with the wind when you are in England. I saw the Sky guys move up to the front and there was point that there was a lot of wind. It was a good point to go and we managed to get away.
“It is nice to win. It’s nice to win before the World Championships. I am to try and defend the jersey and win the overall that is the goal now.”
In addition to taking second on the stage, Michael Matthews took the lead in the UNISON Best Young Rider award, saying, “It worked out really well for the team.
“It is going to be really hard to defend the race lead, but it is what every team wants. It is a privilege to have the jersey in the team and we will be happy to work for it and see if we can keep hold of it until the end of the week. We worked hard today but having the jersey made it worth it.”
AN Post’s Pieter Ghyllebert kept the Yodel Sprints Jersey, with his teammate Andrew Fenn winning the Stage Three Combativity Award.
Continuing in the Skoda King of the Mountains Jersey is Sigma Sport – Specialized’s Russell Hampton, who said, “We will just take it day-by-day, but if we can keep it (the jersey) until London, back to our base that would be great.â€
In the battle for the overall IG Markets Gold Jersey, twenty two riders are separated by less than half a minute, with Brits filling six of the top ten spots with five stages of the race remaining.
Members of the public can experience the rigors of The Stoke-on-Trent Stage themselves by riding in The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday 25th September. For more details, and to sign-up, please visit www.tourride.co.uk
Post Race Quotes
Lars Boom, Stage Three winner and IG Markets Gold Jersey
“With 200 metres to go I managed to jump over (Steve) Cummings and (Geraint) Thomas and then the corners started so they couldn’t pass us anymore. My first aim was to pull for Michael (Matthews) and then I felt good so I am happy to win.
“We knew that you can’t bring HTC and Cavendish or the Sky boys to the finish. We knew we would have to surprise them, and we managed to do that.
“I know that it is always tricky with the wind when you are in England. I saw the Sky guys move up to the front and there was point that there was a lot of wind. It was a good point to go and we managed to get away.
“It is nice to win. It’s nice to win before the World Championships. I am to try and defend the jersey and win the overall, that is the goal now.”
Michael Matthews, Stage Three runner-up and UNISON Best Young Rider
“It worked out really well for the team.
“It is going to be really hard to defend the race lead, but it is what every team wants. It is a privilege to have the jersey in the team and we will be happy to work for it and see if we can keep hold of it until the end of the week. We worked hard today but having the jersey made it worth it.”
Russell Hampton, Skoda King of the Mountains Jersey (click here for more from Russell)
“We will have to talk tonight. We have looked at the stages on our training camp a few weeks ago. I know some of the climbs from the Junior Tour of Wales, so it brings back some memories. We will try and be aggressive and see what comes of it.”
Ben Swift (www.benswiftcycling.com): Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain around Stoke-on-Trent was always going to be a tough one. After having stage 2 cancelled due to extreme wind, everybody was keen to get going. I had the normal rest day legs where they don’t feel attached to you at first. I came around and was able to help my team mates split it up in the cross winds.
There was still a lot of wind hanging around and when we was at the highest point we went for it. It felt good to be dishing it out in the cross winds, even though it hurt me quite a lot. After that I just tried to help my team mates the best I could.
We are in a good position now and will be looking forward to the stages ahead. Bring on tomorrow!
Photo Report From Inside the Race
(thanks to Graham Harper (Welsh NEG pilot) for getting us into the right places to get these images)
The riders leave Stoke for what turned out to be a very exciting stage.
Russell Hampton drives the break with Boy van Poppell and Andy Fenn at the start of the race.
First Yodel Sprint sees the jersey Pieter Ghyllebert crossing the line first.
Through the latter section of the feedzone, Team Sky take up the pace at the front from HTC and the result was carnage in the peloton …
A selection is made over the section at the top of the climb and the race is in pieces
Jonathan Tiernan Locke made the selection and then attacked them on the KOM climbs including Gun Hill to challenge Russell Hampton for the jersey.
Still 20k to go and Alex Dowsett attacked and started to put time into the HTC lead group and held them off all the way to around three k to go.
A great effort by Alex to try and win the stage solo but after being caught, he lost around a minute and maybe his chance at the overall?
HTC lead the chase after Alex Dowsett
Rabobank take over the race with Lars Boom winning the stage and taking the Golden jersey off Cavendish.
Winner of the stage, Lars Boom with his trophy’s
The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Classification leader is Mark Cavendish
Russell Hampton has himself another Yeti as he holds on to the climbers jersey for his team, Sigma Sport Specialized
Another day, another break and more points in the climbers competition sponsored by Skoda.
More Photos on Flickr (Marc John) http://www.flickr.com/photos/sumofmarc/sets/72157627538282447/
Stage 3 Photo Album
(If the slideshow is not visible in your browser, click here to view them on Flickr)
Results
The Stoke-on-Trent Stage, 140.3km
1 Lars Boom Rabobank 3h 23′ 42”
2 Michael Matthews** Rabobank st
3 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling st
4 Stephen Cummings Sky ProCycling st
5 Mark Cavendish HTC Highroad st
6 Ian Bibby Motorpoint st
7 Jonathan Tiernan Locke Rapha Condor – Sharp st
8 Jelle Wallays** Topsport Vlaanderen st
9 Linus Gerdemann Leopard Trek st
10 Andrew Fenn** An Post – Sean Kelly st
11 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin – Cervelo st
12 Leopold Koenig Team NetApp st
13 Dominic Klemme Leopard Trek st
14 Iker Camano Endura Racing st
15 Jan-Bert Lindeman** Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
16 Joost Posthuma Leopard Trek st
17 Jan Barta Team NetApp st
18 Bram Tankink Rabobank st
19 Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare st
20 Michael Rogers Sky ProCycling at 0′ 7”
21 Dan Craven Rapha Condor – Sharp at 0′ 9”
22 Russell Hampton Sigma Sport-Specialised st
23 Rory Sutherland UnitedHealthcare at 0′ 12”
24 Ben Swift Sky ProCycling st
25 Mathew Hayman Sky ProCycling at 0′ 26”
26 Alex Dowsett Sky ProCycling at 0′ 55”
27 Bernhard Eisel HTC Highroad at 2′ 6”
28 Lars Bak HTC Highroad st
29 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen at 3′ 57”
30 Anthony Charteau Team Europcar at 3′ 59”
31 Kristian House Rapha Condor – Sharp st
32 Thomas De Gendt Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
33 Willem Wauters** Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
34 Tom Murray Sigma Sport-Specialised at 7′ 45”
35 Gael Le Bellec Team Raleigh st
36 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint st
37 Simon Richardson Sigma Sport-Specialised st
38 Marcin Bialoblocki Motorpoint st
39 Alexandre Pichot Team Europcar st
40 Dan Fleeman Team Raleigh st
41 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp st
42 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post – Sean Kelly st
43 Rene Mandri Endura Racing st
44 Dominique Cornu Topsport Vlaanderen st
45 Roger Hammond Team Garmin – Cervelo st
46 Mark McNally** An Post – Sean Kelly st
47 Julian Dean Team Garmin – Cervelo st
48 Jack Bauer Endura Racing st
49 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh st
50 Giacomo Nizzolo** Leopard Trek st
51 Jonathan McEvoy** Motorpoint st
52 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
53 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post – Sean Kelly st
54 Chris Jones UnitedHealthcare st
55 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare st
56 Paul Voss Endura Racing st
57 Karl Menzies UnitedHealthcare st
58 Rik Flens Rabobank st
59 Coen Vermeltfoort Rabobank st
60 Andy Tennant Rapha Condor – Sharp st
61 Zak Dempster Rapha Condor – Sharp st
62 Gabriel Rasch Team Garmin – Cervelo st
63 Thor Hushovd Team Garmin – Cervelo st
64 Steve Lampier Sigma Sport-Specialised at 12′ 6”
65 Kenny De Ketele Topsport Vlaanderen at 12′ 12”
66 Alex Rasmussen HTC Highroad st
67 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport-Specialised st
68 Tom Last Sigma Sport-Specialised st
69 Will Clarke Leopard Trek st
70 Mark Renshaw HTC Highroad st
71 Alex Wetterall Endura Racing st
72 James Sampson Motorpoint st
73 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen st
74 Jamie Sparling Team Raleigh st
75 Richard Handley** Team Raleigh st
76 Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing st
77 Jonathan Clarke UnitedHealthcare st
78 Peter Williams Motorpoint st
79 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp st
80 Cesare Benedetti Team NetApp st
81 Andreas Dietziker Team NetApp st
82 Mark Cassidy An Post – Sean Kelly st
83 Ronan McLaughlin An Post – Sean Kelly st
84 Yohann Gene Team Europcar st
85 Jeroen Janssen Team Raleigh st
86 Damien Gaudin Team Europcar st
87 Theo Bos Rabobank st
88 Matt Brammeier HTC Highroad st
89 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen st
90 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor – Sharp st
91 Franck Bouyer Team Europcar st
92 Mathieu Claude Team Europcar st
93 Martijn Maaskant Team Garmin – Cervelo st
Combativity Award: Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post)
Overall General Classification, after Stage Three
1. 1 Lars Boom Rabobank 8h 4′ 35”
2Â Mark Cavendish HTC Highroad at 0′ 3”
3Â Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling at 0′ 6”
4Â Michael Matthews** Rabobank at 0′ 7”
5Â Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare at 0′ 8”
6 Andrew Fenn** An Post – Sean Kelly st
7Â Ian Bibby Motorpoint at 0′ 13”
8 Linus Gerdemann Leopard Trek st
9 Stephen Cummings Sky ProCycling st
10 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin – Cervelo st
11Â Jan-Bert Lindeman** Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
12 Jelle Wallays** Topsport Vlaanderen st
13 Jan Barta Team NetApp st
14 Bram Tankink Rabobank st
15 Leopold Koenig Team NetApp st
16 Jonathan Tiernan Locke Rapha Condor – Sharp st
17 Joost Posthuma Leopard Trek st
18 Dominic Klemme Leopard Trek st
19Â Michael Rogers Sky ProCycling at 0′ 20”
20Â Dan Craven Rapha Condor – Sharp at 0′ 22”
21 Ben Swift Sky ProCycling at 0′ 25”
22 Rory Sutherland UnitedHealthcare st
23 Iker Camano Endura Racing at 0′ 31”
24 Mathew Hayman Sky ProCycling at 0′ 38”
25 Russell Hampton Sigma Sport-Specialised at 0′ 39”
26 Alex Dowsett Sky ProCycling at 1′ 7”
27 Bernhard Eisel HTC Highroad at 2′ 29”
28 Lars Bak HTC Highroad at 2′ 40”
29 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen at 4′ 10”
30 Kristian House Rapha Condor – Sharp at 4′ 12”
31 Thomas De Gendt Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
32 Willem Wauters** Vacansoleil – DCM at 4′ 37”
33 Anthony Charteau Team Europcar at 5′ 54”
34 Roger Hammond Team Garmin – Cervelo at 7′ 58”
35 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare st
36 Jonathan McEvoy** Motorpoint st
37 Mark McNally** An Post – Sean Kelly st
38 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp st
39 Chris Jones UnitedHealthcare st
40 Simon Richardson Sigma Sport-Specialised st
41 Andy Tennant Rapha Condor – Sharp st
42 Zak Dempster Rapha Condor – Sharp st
43 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post – Sean Kelly st
44 Julian Dean Team Garmin – Cervelo st
45 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint st
46 Jack Bauer Endura Racing st
47 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCMÂ st
48 Alexandre Pichot Team Europcar st
49 Gabriel Rasch Team Garmin – Cervelo st
50 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh st
51 Rene Mandri Endura Racing st
52 Coen Vermeltfoort Rabobank st
53 Paul Voss Endura Racing st
54 Dan Fleeman Team Raleigh st
55 Thor Hushovd Team Garmin – Cervelo st
56 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post – Sean Kelly at 8′ 14”
57 Marcin Bialoblocki Motorpoint at 8′ 23”
58 Rik Flens Rabobank st
59 Gael Le Bellec Team Raleigh at 8′ 31”
60 Karl Menzies UnitedHealthcare st
61 Giacomo Nizzolo** Leopard Trek at 9′ 0”
62 Tom Murray Sigma Sport-Specialised at 9′ 2”
63 Dominique Cornu Topsport Vlaanderen st
64 Mark Renshaw HTC Highroad at 12′ 19”
65 Theo Bos Rabobank at 12′ 21”
66 Peter Williams Motorpoint at 12′ 24”
67 Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing at 12′ 25”
68 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen st
69 Alex Rasmussen HTC Highroad st
70 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp st
71 Andreas Dietziker Team NetApp st
72 Mathieu Claude Team Europcar st
73 Richard Handley** Team Raleigh st
74 Alex Wetterall Endura Racing st
75 Martijn Maaskant Team Garmin – Cervelo st
76 Franck Bouyer Team Europcar st
77 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport-Specialised st
78 Damien Gaudin Team Europcar st
79 Cesare Benedetti Team NetApp st
80 Ronan McLaughlin An Post – Sean Kelly st
81 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor – Sharp st
82 Will Clarke Leopard Trek at 12′ 43”
83 Mark Cassidy An Post – Sean Kelly at 12′ 46”
84 Matt Brammeier HTC Highroad st
85 Jamie Sparling Team Raleigh at 12′ 50”
86 Yohann Gene Team Europcar st
87 Steve Lampier Sigma Sport-Specialised at 12′ 52”
88 Tom Last Sigma Sport-Specialised at 12′ 58”
89 James Sampson Motorpoint st
90 Jeroen Janssen Team Raleigh st
91 Kenny De Ketele Topsport Vlaanderen at 13′ 29”
92 Jonathan Clarke UnitedHealthcare st
93 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen st
The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Classification, after Stage Three
1. Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC – Highroad. 26pts
2. Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling. 24pts
3. Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank. 23pts
4. Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank. 14pts
5. Mark Renshaw (Aus, HTC Highroad. 14pts
6. Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint. 13pts
7. Theo Bos (Ned, Rabobank. 13pts
8. Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling. 12pts
9. Robert Forster (Ger, UnitedHealthcare. 10pts
10. Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp. 9pts
Skoda King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Three
1. Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized. 32pts
2. Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp. 16pts
3. Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare. 12pts
4. Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post. 12pts
5. Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling. 12pts
6. Michael Rogers (Aus, Sky Procycling. 10pts
7. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post. 9pts
8. Bernhard Eisel (Aut, HTC Highroad. 4pts
9. Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad. 3pts
10. Ronan McLaughlin (Irl, AN Post. 3pts
Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Three
1. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post. 17pts
2. Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized. 13pts
3. Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare. 8pts
4. Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post. 8pts
5. Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank. 6pts
6. Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling. 5pts
7. Mathew Hayman (Aus, Sky Procycling. 3pts
8. Alex Dowsett (GB, Sky Procycling. 2pts
9. Peter Williams (GB, Motorpoint. 2pts
10. Bernhard Eisel (Aut, HTC Highroad. 1pts
UNISON Best Young Rider Classification, after Stage Three
1. Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank. 8h 04m 42s
2. Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post. @ 0.01
3. Jan-Bert Lindemann (Ned, Vacansoleil DCM. @ 0.06
4. Jelle Wallays (Bel, Tosport Vlaanderen. same time
5. Willem Wauters (Bel, Vacansoleil DCM. @ 4.30
Live Updates
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2011 Tour of Britain – Stage by Stage
1. Peebles to Dumfries, 170km (Sunday September 11)
2. Kendal to Blackpool, 138km (Monday September 12)
3. Stoke-on-Trent to Trentham Gardens, 140km (Tuesday September 13)
4. Welshpool to Caerphilly, 180km (Wednesday September 14)
5. Exeter to Exmouth, 180km (Thursday September 15)
6. Taunton to Wells, 146km (Friday September 16)
7. Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham, 200km (Saturday September 17)
8a. London 9km individual time trial (Sunday September 18)
8b. London 90km criterium (Sunday September 18)
