Tour of Britain Stage 2

2014_VanillaBikes_BANNER_April1

Mark Renshaw sprinted to victory along Llandudno’s seafront Mostyn Crescent, heading Ben Swift and Sam Bennett in a thrilling finale to Stage Two

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Tour of Britain Stage 2

STAGE 1  | STAGE 2  | STAGE 3  | STAGE 4  | STAGE 5  | STAGE 6  | STAGE 7  | STAGE 8

The Live Photo Album (internet permitting)
(thanks to Graham Harper for helping in getting these images)

REPORT

Issued on behalf of SweetSpot Group 

Renshaw, so often the creator of wins for others, grabbed a much deserved slice of the glory himself in Llandudno with a memorable victory that saw the general classification riders and sprinters mixing it up during a thrilling descent off the Great Orme.

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Mark Renshaw wins stage 2 of the Tour of Britain and takes the Yellow jersey in the process.

As the race swooped along the North Wales coast and down off the final SKODA King of the Mountains climb of the Great Orme, it developed into an entertaining free for all with no sprint trains as such, and for a moment it looked like Swift was heading for line honours. Renshaw, however, sensed from years of experience that the Team Sky man might have gone a bit early and fought for his wheel before unleashing his own devastating finish.

The win, Renshaw’s first in Omega Pharma Quick-Step colours, is his second in the Tour of Britain, his first coming in Exmouth, which the race visits this year on Stage Five, in 2011, while consolation for Swift was the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey, and second spot overall, just four seconds away from Renshaw’s Friends Life Yellow Jersey.

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Yellow for Mark Renshaw.

With Mark Cavendish having to take a back seat nursing a huge haematoma on his left thigh after his Stage One crash, Renshaw, along with Niki Terpstra and Michael Kwiatkowski were given a free rein to do whatever felt right hurtling down from the Orme into Llandudno itself.

Kwiatkowski, one of the leading GC contenders for the week set the cat among the pigeons by pulling out a lead on the descent but Sire Bradley Wiggins, looking in ominously good form and descending like he did in his Tour de France pomp, effortlessly pulled that back and then did everything possible to keep Ben Swift in contention for the stage.

The impressive Kwiatkowski, still going strong, did a good turn by riding in his wheel for as long as possible to ensure that any rider trying to overtake Renshaw would have to go around the long way.

Behind Swift came Team NetApp Endura’s Sam Bennett, and Garmin Sharp’s Tyler Farrar, who had also showed his hand on the ascent of the Great Orme.

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The race leaves Knowsley Safari Park start with the riders in the leaders jersey at the start of the peloton.

“That was pretty exciting especially that last 5-kilometres, I would imagine it would make pretty good TV,” said a breathless Renshaw afterwards. “Nobody in our team knew the finish so we were going by word of mouth and the road book but it certainly suited me. I’ve got good legs after the Tour de France and was going very well.

“It was a shame that Cav crashed yesterday, it would have been the perfect sprint for him in my wheel but he is still trying to recover a bit. It’s pretty amazing he is still in the race really. He had extreme pain today.

“It’s great to reward the team with a victory, it’s the first time I’ve been able to do that. It’s a fantastic feeling. Over the years I have learned to get that feeling from helping other riders. I’ve dedicated a big proportion of my career to helping other guys. Not only Cav but Boasson Hagen, Henderson, Griepel, Hushovd – great riders – but it’s always nice to win a race personally.

“We were a bit down this morning to be honest. Once again our leader had taken a big hit. Mark is our leader, we are right behind him, we ride the whole season for him. He is one of the biggest champions of the sport. I came to the team to help him 100%. Even when he is not feeling good I will dedicate my efforts to him. Even on a day when he is just at 80% he can win a bike race, he is that kind of rider.”

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The first attack coming from Tinkoff Saxo

Having once again been at the front of the action, Liverpool’s Mark McNally retained the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey, and also picked up the day’s Rouleur Combativity Award.

The An Post Chain Reaction rider had featured in the day’s final breakaway group, also including Ian Bibby, Chris Lawless, Lasse Hansen, Pablo Lastras and Rob Partridge, the latter of whom was in the break through his home town of Wrexham.

Once into Conwy county the peloton, led by Sky’s Bernhard Eisel, set about decimating the group’s three minute plus lead, with just Hansen, Lastras and McNally remaining as the race hit the Great Orme, and those trio were soon swallowed up as a succession of riders chose to attack.

In the YodelDirect Sprints classification Sonny Colbrelli of Bardiani CSF retains the jersey, while Omega Pharma Quick-Step’s successful trip to North Wales was rounded out by taking the lead in the Friends Life Team Classification.

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A four up rider break formed from that and included Mark McNally and Alex Peters (Madison Genesis)

Stage Three sees the Friends Life Tour of Britain remain in Wales, with Monmouthshire’s Tumble mountain above Abergavenny set to play host to the first summit finish in the Principality, at the end of a 180-kilometre leg south from Newtown, through Powys.

Highlights of Stage Two are on ITV4 at 2000 on Monday 8 September, with live coverage resuming from 1300 on Tuesday on ITV4, for Stage Three from Newtown to the Tumble.

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The race came back together though and across the Runcorn Bridge the attacking carried on

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A 25 up group then formed with most teams in it and after it got a few minutes, I was thinking this was going to be the GC group at the end of the day.

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The IAM team though had other riders and they single handed brought it back showing that Chavanel  has GC ambitions…

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It was Chavenel  that closed the gap and Brad Wiggins was keeping his eye on the Frenchman in form.

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After a six man group escaped, the shutters went up and the break with McNally, Partridge, Bibby and Chris Lawless for Britain was allowed their freedom.

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Carl Lawrenson keeping the public on the race route informed of what is happening in the race.

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Bibby getting across the line first in a sprint.

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Lasse Norman Hansen (Garmin) won the next sprint though

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Marcel Kittel explores his musette after the feed zone.

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The six up break held off the peloton until the final 10k

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Some very lovely country side today – must go back for a visit!

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Training partners when in the same country battle for the KoM points won by leader Mark McNally

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A Castle! Stop I thought and get an image … the other side however was a lot prettier … darn or words to that effect!

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Marcel Kittel crosses the line and looks up at the big screen to see who has won.

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Still in the jersey after a tough day in North Wales after leaving his home city of Liverpool.

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Ben Swift gets a jersey – the Points one …

STAGE 2
1 RENSHAW Mark OPQ 04:38:54
2 SWIFT Ben SKY @ same time
3 BENNETT Sam TNE @ same time
4 FARRAR Tyler GRS @ same time
5 ZABEL Rick BMC @ same time
6 KWIATKOWSKI Michal OPQ @ same time
7 PINEAU Jérôme IAM @ same time
8 TERPSTRA Niki OPQ @ same time
9 RUFFONI Nicola BAR @ same time
10 HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM @ same time
11 WIGGINS Bradley SKY @ same time
12 TRUSOV Nikolay TCS @ same time
13 PETERS Alex MGT @ same time
14 THWAITES Scott TNE @ same time
15 BAUER Jack GRS @ same time
16 BLYTHE Adam NPC @ same time
17 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI Jon MOV @ same time
18 BOULO Matthieu RAL @ same time
19 DOWSETT Alex MOV @ same time
20 MCLAY Daniel GBR @ same time
21 TEUNS Dylan BMC @ same time
22 GOLAS Michal OPQ @ same time
23 ROCHE Nicolas TCS @ same time
24 TANKINK Bram BEL @ same time
25 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM @ same time
26 KÖNIG Leopold TNE @ same time
27 SCHORN Daniel TNE @ same time
28 BOARO Manuele TCS @ same time
29 SUTHERLAND Rory TCS @ same time
30 BRANDLE Matthias IAM @ same time
31 HOUSE Kristian RCS @ same time
32 VOSS Paul TNE @ same time
33 JUUL JENSEN Christopher TCS @ same time
34 CAVENDISH Mark OPQ @ same time
35 OPIE Chris RCS @ same time
36 @ same time EWART Thomas MGT @ same time
37 HANDLEY Richard RCS @ same time
38 CHRISTIAN Mark RAL @ same time
39 BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel BAR @ same time
40 ARCHBOLD Shane SKT @ same time
41 WYNANTS Maarten BEL @ same time
42 VEELERS Tom GIA @ same time
43 TIMMER Albert GIA @ same time
44 DEKKER Thomas GRS @ same time
45 KNEISKY Morgan RAL @ same time
46 LANDER Sebastian BMC @ same time
47 ZARDINI Edoardo BAR @ same time
48 DOULL Owain SKT @ same time
49 @ same time AUFF Andreas MTN @ same time
50 BARTA Jan TNE @ same time
51 LOPEZ GARCIA David SKY @ same time
52 WILKINSON Ian RAL @ same time
53 BATTAGLIN Enrico BAR @ same time
54 REICHENBACH Sébastien IAM @ same time
55 VAN BAARLE Dylan GRS @ same time
56 NORTHEY Michael James MGT @ same time
57 NORDHAUG Lars-Petter BEL @ same time
58 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas MTN 10
59 LAMPIER Steve VGR 0
60 MEGIAS LEAL Javier TNN 10
61 VELITS Peter BMC @ same time
62 CUMMINGS Stephen BMC @ same time
63 VISCONTI Giovanni MOV 13
64 HENAO GOMEZ Sebastian SKY @ same time
65 GIRDLESTONE Dylan GRS 16
66 KOHLER Martin BMC @ same time
67 GEOGHEGAN HART Tao GBR 0
68 HOLOHAN Liam MGT 16
69 GERDEMANN Linus MTN @ same time
70 HNIK Karel MTN @ same time
71 ATKINS George RAL 24
72 VAN NIEKERK Dennis MTN 26
73 CUMING Michael RCS @ same time
74 SZMYD Sylvester MOV 33
75 MULLEN Ryan SKT 44
76 MARKUS Barry BEL @ same time
77 VERSCHOOR Martijn TNN @ same time
78 MOSES Thomas RCS @ same time
79 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo MOV @ same time
80 HANSEN Lasse Norman GRS @ same time
81 @ same time AMSNIJDER Tom GIA @ same time
82 LOZANO RIBA David TNN @ same time
83 BIALOBLOCKI Marcin VGR @ same time
84 MCNALLY Mark SKT @ same time
85 EDMONDSON Nathan VGR 54
86 FLENS Rick BEL @ same time
87 VERMOTE Julien OPQ 01:05
88 BARKER Yanto RAL 01:31
89 APPLEBY Dale NPC @ same time
90 SANZ UNZUE Enrique MOV @ same time
91 PERON Andrea TNN 02:37
92 COLBRELLI Sonny BAR 03:12
93 LATHAM Christopher GBR @ same time
94 SCULLY Thomas MGT @ same time
95 GULDHAMMER Rasmus TCS @ same time
96 HENTTALA Joonas TNN @ same time
97 MORGAN Bradley VGR @ same time
98 MOSS James VGR @ same time
99 KITTEL Marcel GIA @ same time
100 ISTA Kevin IAM @ same time
101 BOL Jetse BEL 04:46
102 O’SHEA Glen SKT 04:58
103 DE BACKER Bert GIA 05:07
104 PIECHELE Andrea BAR 05:09
105 PARTRIDGE Robert VGR 05:13
106 HUNT Joshua NPC 06:01
107 MOULD Jonathan NPC @ same time
108 JIM Songezo MTN 06:12
109 BIBBY Ian MGT 06:25
110 LOWSLEY WILLIAMS James NPC 09:55
111 EISEL Bernhard SKY @ same time
112 BULGAC Brian GIA @ same time
113 HARRISON Samuel NPC 10:17
114 PLANET Charles TNN 10:41
115 LAWLESS Christopher GBR 11:55
116 BURTON Germain GBR @ same time
117 WILSON Jack SKT @ same time

Did not finish
PEARSON Daniel GBR
CARTHY Hugh RCS

OVERALL

1 RENSHAW Mark OPQ 06:55:19
2 SWIFT Ben SKY 4
3 RUFFONI Nicola BAR @ same time
4 BENNETT Sam TNE 6
5 CAVENDISH Mark OPQ @ same time
6 DOWSETT Alex MOV 7
7 HANDLEY Richard RCS @ same time
8 FARRAR Tyler GRS 10
9 HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM @ same time
10 ZABEL Rick BMC @ same time
11 TRUSOV Nikolay TCS @ same time
12 PETERS Alex MGT @ same time
13 MCLAY Daniel GBR @ same time
14 PINEAU Jérôme IAM @ same time
15 BLYTHE Adam NPC @ same time
16 TERPSTRA Niki OPQ @ same time
17 KWIATKOWSKI Michal OPQ @ same time
18 BOULO Matthieu RAL @ same time
19 TANKINK Bram BEL @ same time
20 OPIE Chris RCS @ same time
21 LANDER Sebastian BMC @ same time
22 VEELERS Tom GIA @ same time
23 KNEISKY Morgan RAL @ same time
24 BRANDLE Matthias IAM @ same time
25 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI Jon MOV @ same time
26 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM @ same time
27 DOULL Owain SKT @ same time
28 @ same time EWART Thomas MGT @ same time
29 SUTHERLAND Rory TCS @ same time
30 HOUSE Kristian RCS @ same time
31 WILKINSON Ian RAL @ same time
32 GOLAS Michal OPQ @ same time
33 @ same time AUFF Andreas MTN @ same time
34 TEUNS Dylan BMC @ same time
35 TIMMER Albert GIA @ same time
36 WIGGINS Bradley SKY @ same time
37 THWAITES Scott TNE @ same time
38 KÖNIG Leopold TNE @ same time
39 BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel BAR @ same time
40 DEKKER Thomas GRS @ same time
41 ZARDINI Edoardo BAR @ same time
42 BATTAGLIN Enrico BAR @ same time
43 BOARO Manuele TCS @ same time
44 VOSS Paul TNE @ same time
45 VAN BAARLE Dylan GRS @ same time
46 WYNANTS Maarten BEL @ same time
47 REICHENBACH Sébastien IAM @ same time
48 BARTA Jan TNE @ same time
49 ROCHE Nicolas TCS @ same time
50 BAUER Jack GRS @ same time
51 CHRISTIAN Mark RAL @ same time
52 LOPEZ GARCIA David SKY @ same time
53 SCHORN Daniel TNE @ same time
54 JUUL JENSEN Christopher TCS @ same time
55 ARCHBOLD Shane SKT @ same time
56 LAMPIER Steve VGR @ same time
57 NORTHEY Michael James MGT @ same time
58 GEOGHEGAN HART Tao GBR @ same time
59 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas MTN 20
60 VELITS Peter BMC @ same time
61 CUMMINGS Stephen BMC @ same time
62 MEGIAS LEAL Javier TNN @ same time
63 HENAO GOMEZ Sebastian SKY 23
64 VISCONTI Giovanni MOV @ same time
65 KOHLER Martin BMC 26
66 HNIK Karel MTN @ same time
67 GERDEMANN Linus MTN @ same time
68 GIRDLESTONE Dylan GRS @ same time
69 HOLOHAN Liam MGT @ same time
70 NORDHAUG Lars-Petter BEL 30
71 ATKINS George RAL 34
72 VAN NIEKERK Dennis MTN 36
73 CUMING Michael RCS @ same time
74 SZMYD Sylvester MOV 43
75 HANSEN Lasse Norman GRS 50
76 VERSCHOOR Martijn TNN 52
77 MARKUS Barry BEL 54
78 MOSES Thomas RCS @ same time
79 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo MOV @ same time
80 MULLEN Ryan SKT @ same time
81 LOZANO RIBA David TNN @ same time
82 MCNALLY Mark SKT @ same time
83 @ same time AMSNIJDER Tom GIA @ same time
84 BIALOBLOCKI Marcin VGR @ same time
85 FLENS Rick BEL 01:04
86 EDMONDSON Nathan VGR @ same time
87 VERMOTE Julien OPQ 01:15
88 SANZ UNZUE Enrique MOV 01:41
89 BARKER Yanto RAL @ same time
90 APPLEBY Dale NPC @ same time
91 PERON Andrea TNN 02:47
92 KITTEL Marcel GIA 03:12
93 COLBRELLI Sonny BAR 03:13
94 SCULLY Thomas MGT 03:21
95 LATHAM Christopher GBR 03:22
96 GULDHAMMER Rasmus TCS @ same time
97 MORGAN Bradley VGR @ same time
98 ISTA Kevin IAM @ same time
99 MOSS James VGR @ same time
100 HENTTALA Joonas TNN @ same time
101 BOL Jetse BEL 04:56
102 O’SHEA Glen SKT 05:08
103 DE BACKER Bert GIA 05:17
104 PIECHELE Andrea BAR 05:19
105 PARTRIDGE Robert VGR 05:23
106 MOULD Jonathan NPC 06:05
107 HUNT Joshua NPC 06:11
108 JIM Songezo MTN 06:22
109 BIBBY Ian MGT 06:31
110 LOWSLEY WILLIAMS James NPC 10:05
111 EISEL Bernhard SKY @ same time
112 HARRISON Samuel NPC 10:27
113 PLANET Charles TNN 10:51
114 LAWLESS Christopher GBR 12:01
115 BURTON Germain GBR 12:05
116 WILSON Jack SKT @ same time
117 BULGAC Brian GIA

KOM

Glascoed – km 138.1
1 MCNALLY Mark GBR SKT 6
2 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 5
3 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 4
4 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 3
5 PARTRIDGE Robert GBR VGR 2
6 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo ESP MOV 1

Ty Gwyn – km 161.9
1 MCNALLY Mark GBR SKT 6
2 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 5
3 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 4
4 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo ESP MOV 3
5 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 2
6 PARTRIDGE Robert GBR VGR 1

Great Orme – km 195
1 CHAVANEL Sylvain FRA IAM 6
2 BAUER Jack NZL GRS 5
3 KWIATKOWSKI Michal POL OPQ 4
4 KÖNIG Leopold CZE TNE 3
5 ROCHE Nicolas IRL TCS 2
6 WIGGINS Bradley GBR SKY 1

OVERALL
1 MCNALLY Mark GBR SKT 24
2 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 10
3 HANDLEY Richard GBR RCS 9
4 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 8
5 CHAVANEL Sylvain FRA IAM 6
6 BAUER Jack NZL GRS 5
7 COLBRELLI Sonny ITA BAR 5
8 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 5
9 KWIATKOWSKI Michal POL OPQ 4
10 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo ESP MOV 4
11 MOULD Jonathan GBR NPC 4
12 KÖNIG Leopold CZE TNE 3
13 PARTRIDGE Robert GBR VGR 3
14 ROCHE Nicolas IRL TCS 2
15 WIGGINS Bradley GBR SKY 1

SPRINTS

Widnes – km 9.7
1 DOWSETT Alex GBR MOV 3
2 VERSCHOOR Martijn NED TNN 2
3 SCULLY Thomas NZL MGT 1

Marchwiel – km 79.6
1 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 3
2 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 2
3 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 1

Mold – km 100.3
1 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 3
2 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 2
3 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 1

SPRINTS OVERALL
1 COLBRELLI Sonny ITA BAR 9
2 MOULD Jonathan GBR NPC 6
3 HANSEN Lasse Norman DEN GRS 4
4 BIBBY Ian GBR MGT 4
5 LAWLESS Christopher GBR GBR 4
6 DOWSETT Alex GBR MOV 3
7 HANDLEY Richard GBR RCS 3
8 VERSCHOOR Martijn NED TNN 2
9 SCULLY Thomas NZL MGT 1

 

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