Report & Results – Stage 5: Tour of Britain

On a stage where the race was lit up by Endura Racing, Marc de Maar of UnitedHealthcare won the stage with a superb solo effort

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Stage 5: The Stoke-on-Trent Stage 146 km (Thursday 13th)


Marc de Maar of UnitedHealthcare with his special ‘plate’ from the potteries town

REPORT

The battle for the overall in the 2012 Tour of Britain stepped up a gear in Derbyshire today as Sky lost control of the race and the other teams went head to head to smash the race apart.

At the end, only one rider from Team Sky was left in the lead group, Christian Knees as Aussie Leigh Howard (GreenEdge) took over the Gold jersey again with the stage won by Marc de Maar (United Healthcare). His stage win was all the more impressive after having only just picked himself up off the ground following a crash on the run-in to Stoke-on-Trent.

The BIG Photo Album!

Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Sharp) won the sprint from the 17 man group 15 seconds later to take second, while former race leader Boy Van Poppel (UnitedHealthcare) took third to narrow his deficit to the race leader.

The stage began in Trentham Gardens near Stoke with World Champion Mark Cavendish in the IG Markets gold jersey with an advantage of six seconds over his nearest rival but he soon found himself tailed off on the toughest test of the race thus far. This was the fifth straight year of the race at Stoke, and by far the toughest of those five held so far.

After the rain and cold the day before, it was under brighter skies that the race took to the roads around Stoke and at the first Yodel sprint, despite a lot of attacking, the peloton was all together as Leigh Howard took the points and bonus seconds to cut his lead to Gold jersey wearer Mark Cavendish. The race saw more and more attacks before after an hour, a trio finally escaped led by Italian star, Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale).

With him went Bartosz Huzarski (Team NetApp) and Bernie Sulzberger (Raleigh) and they managed to open up a gap of two minutes but the peloton while celebrating at first the break going, soon knuckled down to keep the gap manageable. Team Sky were controlling things with Bernie Eisel seen at the front a lot and while Ivan Basso distanced his breakaway companions, Endura Racing started to smash it after 50 miles had passed under the rider’s wheels.

This saw the race blow apart and Cavendish dropped out the back of the bunch and Bradley Wiggins then opted to drop out of the lead group to wait for the World champion. A select group of 27 riders then formed on the exposed, rolling terrain on the approach to the final categorised climb of the day. The first-category Gun Hill saw Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing) come to the fore, cresting the climb first and staying away briefly with several others before being reeled back in by the rest of the leading group.

With 15km remaining, and a gap of over five minutes to what was left of the peloton, riders looking for a stage win started to show their cards but it was De Maar who made it stick to take one of his biggest wins of his career.

After the stage Sports Director at Team Sky Servais Knaven looked back at a tough day and summed things up. “It was a tough stage,” he admitted. “It was windy and some really hard terrain. Christian did a really good ride which was good to see. He didn’t have his best day today he said but he was still up there for the GC.”

“We hoped for a bit more today but it’s been a hard race up to this point and a hard season. Luke was in the front group but dropped off in the cross-winds when everybody went for it. From that point on it was not possible to come back.”

Knaven also explained the decision which saw Bradley Wiggins wait for Cavendish during the stage, adding: “At that moment it was the point of no return. Brad was in between the two groups waiting for Cav and the gap looked shorter than it was. Brad wanted to help us defend the jersey today and did everything he could to help Cav.

“The team has done a great job during the first four days to control the race and you feel that. There’s three more days to go and everyone is motivated to add to what we’ve already achieved at this race.”

Adding to the spectacle of the stage was a long escape from double Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso, who claimed the Rouleur Combativity Award for his exploits, having done well to stick with the front group after being caught.

“I tried to do my best, but it’s not easy,” said Basso. “I am really happy to be here, I think it is one of the best races in the world.”

Marc de Maar said afterwards “It was a bit of a tough stage today, in fact it’s been a bit of a rough week for me. I started off in crashes on the first two days so I kind of lost my motivation because I came here to do something in the GC but luckily my Team Director coached me through the last few days as I was almost thinking of going home but luckily I didn’t as I won a stage today.”

“It took some effort to stay away but as soon as the finish came closer I started to believe in it and all of a sudden I had some extra percentage to put on my pedal. I am really proud of myself. Still can’t believe it, too much excitement going on but I am sure we’ll get back to the hotel and realise what is going on.”

Leigh Howard, Orica GreenEDGE, IG Gold Jersey “It was hard. It certainly wasn’t our aim to reclaim the jersey today, we wanted to win the stage. That’s what we’ve come here for, just to win stages. I have no illusions that I will stay in the leader’s jersey until the last day. The real climbers, when they come out to play, are a class above the rest of us sprinters so I was just lucky today that I had good legs and could just stay with them until the end.”

“I’ve looked at the profiles [for the next few stages] and I’ve got no illusions that we’ll keep this until the end. We took another blow today, losing another rider in an early crash, so we’re down to four riders now and it’s going to make it hard.”

“It’s fantastic. The other day was the first time I have worn a gold jersey in a professional race so that is a thrill in itself and I am going to try and hold onto it for as long as I can.”

PHOTO REPORT (Thanks to Nigel Summers for helping us bring you this photo report of the stage)

Marc de Maar crosses the line to win stage 5.

Boy van Poppel is third as Sep Vanmarcke wins the group sprint behind Van Poppels teammate de Maar.

Race director Mick Bennett helps Sami Sanchez (former Olympic champ) across the line suffering cramp.

All that was left of the peloton after the Gun Hill climb due to the pressure applied by Endura Racing, Garmin and other teams.

After Gun Hill, a small group was away with Endura Racing having two in the group, Jon Locke and Paul Voss. The chasers though came back t them.

Jon Tiernan Locke (Endura racing) was very very impressive today, playing with the others on the climbs. Tomorrow is going to be very interesting! I hope Sky were impressed, rumoured to be his team for next year.

Nettap and Endura were both taking it to the World Tour teams today.

Part of a three man break, Ivan Basso was in his element in the hills but couldn’t hold off the chasers behind when Endura Racing lit up the race. Basso was great to watch though…

Orica-GreenEdge, Euskatel and United Healthcare were others teams that helped smash the race to pieces.

After an hour of attacking riding, these three including Ivan Basso, Bartosz Huzarski (Team NetApp) and Bernie Sulzberger (Raleigh GAC) were the ones the bunch had let go. Basso though rode them all off his wheel but the bunch controlled by Sky in the first half never let the gap go beyond a few minutes.

With the helicoper looking down on them, Paul Voss and Jonny McEvoy smash it for Endura Racing wit the riders from the team they merge with in 2013, NetApp, also on the front.

Bernie Eisel doing his ‘thing’ on the front of the peloton. Will we see Bernie pushing the riders up the Caerphilly  mountain tomorrow like we did in 2011? 

After Wiggins had a ‘word’ with the Endura Racing riders who kept rider, he attacks down the right for Sky to take control again.

Outside JCB’s headquarters, the Yodel sprint sees lots of cheering from staff and school children encouraging the three up break led here by Bartosz Huzarski (Team NetApp).

Who’s a happy boy! Bernie Eisel is clapping and all smiles as the break of three disappears up the road.

Ivan Basso makes his move with Bernie Sulzberger (Raleigh GAC) chasing. These two along with Bartosz Huzarski (Team NetApp) went clear for 40 or so miles before being caught one by one.

The Skoda Yeti is doing his best to blend in with the huge crowd on the first KoM where Jan Barta (NettApp) took the points.

Liam Holohan of Raleigh GAC attacking on the first KoM at Cannock Chase.

Russell Hampton joins Ivan Basso in a move off the front. It didn’t stick.

Basso was in so many moves today, this another of his attempts to get away along with Mike Cumming. The race was passing 50 metres from Cumming’s house today.

GB’s George Atkins has a dig to try and get clear.

Magnus Backstedt was another who tried to get a move going. It took an hour for the break to go where as yesterday, it was the first move of the day. You just never know when its going to stick!

As ever, it was AN Post on their Dolan bikes who kicked off the action on a very very fast start to the stage.

Wiggins suddenly sprang out of the peloton and went to chat with race controller Matt Stephens during the neutralised section of the race.

Is Wiggins telling Basso about how the roads go up and up on stage 5 which gives him the reason to attack and attack again to get away?

Stage winner Marc De Maar describes Gun Hill during the stage

Ivan Basso gets his reward for being the most aggressive on stage 5 from Rouleur.

Results

Stage Five, The Stoke-on-Trent Stage, 147km

1 Marc De Maar UnitedHealthcare 3h 30′ 26”
2 Sep Vanmarcke Garmin – Sharp at 0′ 15”
3 Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare st
4 Nathan Haas Garmin – Sharp st
5 Leigh Howard Orica – GreenEDGE st
6 Sam Bennett An Post Sean Kelly st
7 Damiano Caruso Liquigas – Cannondale st
8 Leopold Koenig Team NetApp st
9 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Endura Racing st
10 Jerome Coppel Saur Sojasun st
11 Josh Edmondson Great Britain st
12 Yannick Talabardon Saur Sojasun st
13 David Clarke Node 4 – Giordana st
14 Christian Knees Sky Procycling st
15 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp st
16 Jacek Morajko Vacansoleil – DCM st
17 David Lelay Saur Sojasun st
18 Christopher Jones UnitedHealthcare at 0′ 25”
19 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel Euskadi at 0′ 40”
20 Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel Euskadi at 1′ 18”
21 Paul Voss Endura Racing at 1′ 19”
22 Ivan Basso Liquigas – Cannondale at 1′ 32”
23 Wesley Kreder Vacansoleil – DCM at 6′ 1”
24 Russell Downing Endura Racing at 6′ 30”
25 Richard Lang Rapha Condor at 6′ 34”
26 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post Sean Kelly st
27 Niels Wytinck An Post Sean Kelly st
28 Ben Grenda Rapha Condor st
29 Ian Bibby Endura Racing st
30 Luke Rowe Sky Procycling st
31 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas – Cannondale st
32 Zak Dempster Endura Racing st
33 Evan Oliphant Raleigh – GAC st
34 Paolo Longo Borghini Liquigas – Cannondale st
35 Bernard Sulzberger Raleigh – GAC st
36 Wouter Sybrandy IG – Sigma Sport st
37 Matthias Krizek Liquigas – Cannondale st
38 Steele Von Hoff Garmin – Sharp st
39 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp st
40 Jan Barta Team NetApp st
41 Cesare Benedetti Team NetApp st
42 Jonny Clarke UnitedHealthcare st
43 Mark McNally An Post Sean Kelly st
44 Yanto Barker UK Youth Cycling st
45 Simon Richardson IG – Sigma Sport st
46 Ricardo Garcia Euskaltel Euskadi st
47 Peter Williams Node 4 – Giordana st
48 Marcin Bialoblocki Node 4 – Giordana st
49 Michael Northey Node 4 – Giordana st
50 Liam Holohan Raleigh – GAC st
51 Jacob Rathe Garmin – Sharp st
52 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post Sean Kelly st
53 Magnus Backstedt UK Youth Cycling st
54 Chris Opie UK Youth Cycling st
55 David McGowan UK Youth Cycling st
56 Adrian Saez de Arregui Euskaltel Euskadi st
57 Jonathan McEvoy Endura Racing st
58 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel Euskadi st
59 Aidis Kruopis Orica – GreenEDGE at 11′ 45”
60 Dan Craven IG – Sigma Sport st
61 Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling st
62 Rony Martias Saur Sojasun st
63 Niklas Gustavsson UK Youth Cycling st
64 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling st
65 Kristian House Rapha Condor st
66 Christofer Stevenson UK Youth Cycling st
67 Mathew Cronshaw Node 4 – Giordana st
68 Alistair Slater Great Britain st
69 Jeremy Hunt Sky Procycling st
70 Michael Hepburn Orica – GreenEDGE at 25′ 14”
71 Jack Bobridge Orica – GreenEDGE st
72 Rico Rogers Node 4 – Giordana st
73 Lachlan Morton Garmin – Sharp st
74 Barry Markus Vacansoleil – DCM st
75 Kai Reus UnitedHealthcare st
76 Russell Hampton Raleigh – GAC st
77 Graham Briggs Raleigh – GAC st
78 Christopher Jennings Rapha Condor st
79 Tom Last IG – Sigma Sport st
80 Tom Moses Great Britain st
81 Peter Hawkins IG – Sigma Sport st
82 Marco Benfatto Liquigas – Cannondale st
83 Richard Handley Rapha Condor st
84 George Atkins Great Britain st
85 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare st
86 Bernhard Eisel Sky Procycling st
87 Owain Doull Great Britain st
88 Daniel Lloyd IG – Sigma Sport st
89 Simon Yates Great Britain st
90 Michael Cuming Rapha Condor st
91 Ronan Mclaughlin An Post Sean Kelly st

Rouleur Combativity Award: Ivan Basso, Liquigas – Cannondale

IG Gold Jersey, General Classification, after Stage Five

1 Leigh Howard Orica – GreenEDGE 20h 38′ 35”
2 Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare at 0′ 7”
3 Sep Vanmarcke Garmin – Sharp at 0′ 17”
4 Nathan Haas Garmin – Sharp at 0′ 23”
5 Christian Knees Sky Procycling at 0′ 24”
6 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Endura Racing st
7 Damiano Caruso Liquigas – Cannondale st
8 Christopher Jones UnitedHealthcare at 0′ 34”
9 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp at 2′ 2”
10 David Lelay Saur Sojasun st
11 Sam Bennett An Post Sean Kelly at 4′ 1”
12 Jerome Coppel Saur Sojasun st
13 David Clarke Node 4 – Giordana at 4′ 22”
14 Paul Voss Endura Racing at 5′ 5”
15 Leopold Koenig Team NetApp at 5′ 30”
16 Jacek Morajko Vacansoleil – DCM at 5′ 33”
17 Yannick Talabardon Saur Sojasun at 5′ 35”
18 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel Euskadi at 6′ 2”
19 Josh Edmondson Great Britain at 6′ 16”
20 Luke Rowe Sky Procycling at 6′ 28”
21 Russell Downing Endura Racing at 6′ 33”
22 Steele Von Hoff Garmin – Sharp at 6′ 36”
23 Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel Euskadi at 6′ 38”
24 Yanto Barker UK Youth Cycling at 6′ 43”
25 Zak Dempster Endura Racing at 6′ 52”
26 Magnus Backstedt UK Youth Cycling at 6′ 59”
27 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp at 7′ 16”
28 Ivan Basso Liquigas – Cannondale at 7′ 54”
29 Richard Lang Rapha Condor at 10′ 20”
30 Ben Grenda Rapha Condor st
31 Chris Opie UK Youth Cycling st
32 Paolo Longo Borghini Liquigas – Cannondale st
33 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post Sean Kelly at 10′ 36”
34 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas – Cannondale at 11′ 1”
35 Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling at 11′ 27”
36 Rony Martias Saur Sojasun at 11′ 47”
37 Bernard Sulzberger Raleigh – GAC at 11′ 48”
38 Jan Barta Team NetApp at 11′ 52”
39 Wouter Sybrandy IG – Sigma Sport at 11′ 54”
40 Cesare Benedetti Team NetApp at 11′ 56”
41 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling at 12′ 3”
42 Matthias Krizek Liquigas – Cannondale at 12′ 8”
43 Adrian Saez de Arregui Euskaltel Euskadi at 12′ 10”
44 Marcin Bialoblocki Node 4 – Giordana at 12′ 12”
45 Marc De Maar UnitedHealthcare at 12′ 20”
46 Dan Craven IG – Sigma Sport at 13′ 55”
47 Evan Oliphant Raleigh – GAC at 13′ 56”
48 Simon Richardson IG – Sigma Sport at 14′ 17”
49 Jonathan McEvoy Endura Racing at 14′ 41”
50 Peter Williams Node 4 – Giordana at 15′ 35”
51 Michael Northey Node 4 – Giordana at 17′ 42”
52 David McGowan UK Youth Cycling st
53 Mark McNally An Post Sean Kelly st
54 Liam Holohan Raleigh – GAC st
55 Wesley Kreder Vacansoleil – DCM at 17′ 53”
56 Christofer Stevenson UK Youth Cycling at 18′ 0”
57 Ian Bibby Endura Racing at 18′ 28”
58 Jacob Rathe Garmin – Sharp at 18′ 37”
59 Niklas Gustavsson UK Youth Cycling at 18′ 56”
60 Ricardo Garcia Euskaltel Euskadi at 19′ 5”
61 Niels Wytinck An Post Sean Kelly at 19′ 37”
62 Mathew Cronshaw Node 4 – Giordana at 19′ 51”
63 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel Euskadi at 20′ 25”
64 Jeremy Hunt Sky Procycling at 20′ 50”
65 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post Sean Kelly at 21′ 11”
66 Jonny Clarke UnitedHealthcare at 22′ 47”
67 Alistair Slater Great Britain at 23′ 9”
68 Kristian House Rapha Condor at 25′ 17”
69 Aidis Kruopis Orica – GreenEDGE at 26′ 22”
70 Bernhard Eisel Sky Procycling at 27′ 52”
71 Ronan Mclaughlin An Post Sean Kelly at 28′ 37”
72 Daniel Lloyd IG – Sigma Sport at 29′ 0”
73 Peter Hawkins IG – Sigma Sport at 29′ 34”
74 Barry Markus Vacansoleil – DCM at 29′ 57”
75 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare at 30′ 29”
76 Simon Yates Great Britain at 30′ 36”
77 Michael Cuming Rapha Condor st
78 Kai Reus UnitedHealthcare at 31′ 12”
79 Richard Handley Rapha Condor at 31′ 38”
80 Marco Benfatto Liquigas – Cannondale at 31′ 46”
81 Graham Briggs Raleigh – GAC at 32′ 34”
82 Tom Moses Great Britain at 36′ 38”
83 Owain Doull Great Britain at 38′ 24”
84 Christopher Jennings Rapha Condor at 38′ 40”
85 Tom Last IG – Sigma Sport at 38′ 54”
86 George Atkins Great Britain at 40′ 2”
87 Lachlan Morton Garmin – Sharp at 40′ 8”
88 Russell Hampton Raleigh – GAC at 41′ 33”
89 Michael Hepburn Orica – GreenEDGE at 43′ 22”
90 Jack Bobridge Orica – GreenEDGE at 44′ 1”
91 Rico Rogers Node 4 – Giordana at 45′ 57”

Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification, after Stage Five

1) Boy Van Poppel, NED, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, 61pts
2) Leigh Howard, AUS, Orica GreenEDGE, 53pts
3) Mark Cavendish, GBR, Team Sky, 44pts
4) Russell Downing, GBR, Endura Racing, 44pts
5) Luke Rowe, GBR, Team Sky, 39pts

SKODA King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Five

1) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 66pts
2) Pablo Urtasun, SPA, Euskaltel – Euskadi, 44pts
4) Peter Williams, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 32pts
4) Richard Handley, GBR, Rapha Condor, 32pts
5) Bernard Sulzberger, AUS, Team Raleigh – GAC, 31pts

Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Five

1) Peter Williams, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 29pts
2) Matt Cronshaw, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 13pts
3) Rony Martias, FRA, Saur Sojasun, 12pts
4) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 10pts
5) Bartosz Huzarski, POL, Team NetApp, 8pts

Team General Classification, after Stage Five
1) Saur Sojasun, FRA, 62:00:45
2) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, USA, + 1.14
3) Garmin – Sharp, USA, + 2.30
4) Endura Racing, GBR, + 3.41
5) Team NetApp, GER, + 7.39

LIVE PHOTOS
Photos beamed live from the Tour of Britain to your computer

LIVE TEXT UPDATES


Related Links
VeloUK.net Home Page for the Tour of Britain (Links to reports & features)
The Tour of Britain Website

THE 2012 TOUR OF BRITAIN
Stage 1: Ipswich to Norfolk Showground – 199km (Sunday 9th)
Stage 2: Nottingham to Knowsley – 178 km (Monday 10th)
Stage 3: Jedburgh to Dumfries – 161 km(Tuesday 11th)
Stage 4: Carlisle to Blackpool – 156 km (Wednesday 12th)
Stage 5: The Stoke-on-Trent Stage 146 km (Thursday 13th)
Stage 6: Welshpool to Caerphilly – 190 km(Friday 14th)
Stage 7: Barnstaple to Dartmouth 170 km (Saturday 15th)
Stage 8: Reigate to Guildford 147 km(Sunday 16th)

 

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes


Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)


Other News on VeloUK

Tags: , , ,