Tour of Britain Stage 7

Mathieu van der Poel edges closer to Tour of Britain title with Warwickshire stage win and extends overall lead

Tour of Britain Stage 7

Mathieu van der Poel moved closer to being crowned the 2019 Tour of Britain champion on Friday as he beat nearest challenger Matteo Trentin to win stage seven atop Burton Dassett, Warwickshire.

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The Dutch rider got the better of Trentin (Mitchelton-SCOTT) in a thrilling sprint up the short but steep climb to extend his overall advantage to 12 seconds with just Saturday’s Greater Manchester finale to come. Victory atop Burton Dassett – tackled three times in the closing 28 kilometres of Friday’s stage – was van der Poel’s second of the week on British roads following Tuesday’s win in Kendal.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m feeling better day by day,” said van der Poel following the stage. “Yesterday I was saying I surprised myself in the TT because that’s something I didn’t do for a long time and I think it’s an indication of the shape, if you can ride that fast for 14km on your own”.

“I know that finishes like this, they suit me very well. The first 70-80km’s was pretty hard actually, there were a lot of attacks and my team handled it perfectly and they did an amazing job. The second to last time we went up the climb, I knew it was up to me to be at the front and follow the groups of favourites and then I was alone in the big group, so I had to gamble a little bit again. Coming into the last ascent to the finish line I knew I had a pretty good chance to take the win again today”.

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“It was really cool to get up the climb and put in a final effort before all the crowds. I like to race here. Again the sun was out so I’m happy. I have to believe” said van der Poel. I think I did a really good job today, also with the first bonus sprint I didn’t lose any seconds. It’s going to be a hard day again tomorrow and it’s won’t be over until I cross the finish line but I’m confident we’re going to make it.”

Beyond nearest rival Trentin, Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal) sits 40 seconds in arrears, having slipped ahead of Team INEOS rider Pavel Sivakov thanks to time bonuses collected at an intermediate Eisberg Sprint during the Warwickshire. Trentin retains the Points jersey with an 11 point advantage before Manchester, but recognises the challenge he faces in displacing van der Poel from the race lead.

“If you race with the best and you want to compete with them you need to raise your level, especially on this kind of finish line,” said Trentin. “At the moment he is the best in the world, I don’t see anyone who can get close to him at the moment. It was a good day out. Really fast race. I was with Mathieu until the last corner and then he just kicked off again and I had no response. But I have to say, compared to the last finish line he won, I stepped up a little bit. I was at least on his wheel!”

Trentin’s Mitchelton-SCOTT teammate Cameron Meyer had been in the thick of the action in a stage which started off by covering almost 50 kilometres in the first hour of racing, but it was his breakaway companion Dylan van Baarle (Team INEOS) who had collected the majority of the King of the Mountains and Sprint points in Warwickshire. Jacob Scott (Swift Carbon Pro Cycling) keeps the King of the Mountains jersey and just needs to finish the final stage to claim the jersey, which he previously went close to winning in the 2017 Tour.

Van Baarle’s breakaway did move him into second place in the Sprints classification, just three points behind Rory Townsend (Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes) with nine points available on the roads of Greater Manchester. One rider enjoying the clear blue skies and sunshine of Warwickshire was Coventry rider Jake Stewart (Great Britain), saying afterwards, “It was really nice, I knew where I was for most of the day, but it was just full gas for the first hour and a half until a break went, and it wasn’t pleasant”.

“There’s been plenty of support along the route, a lot of friends and family out so it gives you a bit of extra motivation but if the legs aren’t there it’s useless isn’t it!”

Stage Eight will see the Tour of Britain visit all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, starting in Altrincham and finishing on Deansgate in Manchester city centre. The 166 kilometre stage includes over 2,000 metres of climbing, headlined by the fearsome King of the Mountains climb of the Rake above Ramsbottom, near Bury, which has hosted the National Hill Climb Championships on numerous occasions.

Stage 7
1 Mathieu van der Poel Leader jersey Corendon – Circus 04:07:49
2 Matteo Trentin Point jersey Mitchelton – Scott @ 01
3 Simon Clarke EF Education First
4 Davide Cimolai Israel Cycling Academy
5 Tiesj Benoot Lotto – Soudal
6 Jasper De Buyst Lotto – Soudal
7 Gianni Moscon Team Ineos @ 05
8 Xandro Meurisse Wanty – Groupe Gobert
9 Thomas Sprengers Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
10 Amund Grøndahl Jansen Team Jumbo – Visma
11 Pavel Sivakov Team Ineos
12 Chris Hamilton Team Sunweb
13 Alexander Kamp Riwal Readynez
14 Mike Teunissen Team Jumbo – Visma
15 Lawrence Warbasse AG2R La Mondiale
16 Mickaël Cherel AG2R La Mondiale
17 Andrey Amador Movistar Team
18 Matthew Holmes Madison – Genesis
19 Thimo Willems Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
20 Omer Goldstein Israel Cycling Academy @ 11
21 Nils Politt Team Katusha – Alpecin
22 Ben Hermans Israel Cycling Academy
23 Danilo Wyss Team Dimension Data
24 Mark Christian Team Wiggins-Le Col
25 Tanel Kangert EF Education First
26 Connor Swift Great Britain Cycling Team @ 16
27 Julien Vermote Team Dimension Data @ 17
28 Axel Domont AG2R La Mondiale
29 Ryan Christensen Canyon DHB
30 Mark Donovan Team Wiggins-Le Col
31 Florian Stork Team Sunweb
32 Ben Swift Team Ineos @ 23
33 Ben Gastauer AG2R La Mondiale @ 25
34 Tom Van Asbroeck Israel Cycling Academy @ 34
35 James Shaw SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 39
36 Aaron Verwilst Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
37 Eduardo Sepulveda Movistar Team
38 Chad Haga Team Sunweb
39 Brent Van Moer Lotto – Soudal @ 59
40 Jos Van Emden Team Jumbo – Visma
41 Sindre Skjøstad Lunke Riwal Readynez
42 Matthew Walls Great Britain Cycling Team
43 Michal Golas Team Ineos @ 01:16
44 Jack Bauer Mitchelton – Scott @ 01:28
45 Alex Edmondson Mitchelton – Scott @ 01:30
46 Koen Bouwman Team Jumbo – Visma @ 01:35
47 Luke Durbridge Mitchelton – Scott @ 01:38
48 Cameron Meyer Mitchelton – Scott
49 Carlos Barbero Movistar Team
50 Mikel Landa Movistar Team
51 Jens Debusschere Team Katusha – Alpecin
52 Lucas Eriksson Riwal Readynez @ 02:07
53 Emil Nygaard Vinjebo Riwal Readynez
54 Alex Colman Canyon DHB @ 02:39
55 Samuel Jenner Team Wiggins-Le Col
56 Ethan Vernon Great Britain Cycling Team
57 Andreas Stokbro Nielsen Riwal Readynez @ 02:52
58 Edoardo Affini Mitchelton – Scott @ 04:38
59 Dylan Van Baarle Team Ineos @ 04:54
60 Mark Cavendish Team Dimension Data @ 05:24
61 Joey Walker Madison – Genesis @ 05:28
62 Jim Brown Great Britain Cycling Team
63 Edward Dunbar Team Ineos
64 Torkil Veyhe Riwal Readynez
65 Edward Laverack SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling
66 Peter Williams SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling
67 Remy Mertz Lotto – Soudal
68 Tony Gallopin AG2R La Mondiale
69 Mark Renshaw Team Dimension Data
70 Philip Walsleben Corendon – Circus @ 05:37
71 Boris Vallée Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 05:43
72 Conor Dunne Israel Cycling Academy
73 Benjamin Perry Israel Cycling Academy
74 Robert Scott Team Wiggins-Le Col
75 Trond Håkon Trondsen Wanty – Groupe Gobert
76 Frederik Frison Lotto – Soudal
77 Nils Eekhoff Team Sunweb
78 Hector Carretero Movistar Team
79 Gabriel Cullaigh Team Wiggins-Le Col
80 Carlos Verona Movistar Team
81 Sebastian Langeveld EF Education First
82 Jonathan Dibben Madison – Genesis
83 Jacob Scott Mountain jersey SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling
84 Gediminas Bagdonas AG2R La Mondiale
85 Harry Tanfield Team Katusha – Alpecin
86 Christophe Noppe Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
87 Wesley Kreder Wanty – Groupe Gobert
88 Dylan Groenewegen Team Jumbo – Visma
89 Jimmy Janssens Corendon – Circus
90 Sacha Modolo EF Education First
91 Otto Vergaerde Corendon – Circus @ 08:36
92 Cees Bol Team Sunweb @ 10:58
93 Michael Cuming Madison – Genesis
94 Rory Townsend Sprint jersey Canyon DHB @ 11:00
95 Matthew Bostock Canyon DHB
96 Erick Rowsell Madison – Genesis
97 Roy Curvers Team Sunweb @ 11:54
98 Bernhard Eisel Team Dimension Data
99 James Fouche Team Wiggins-Le Col
100 Alex Dowsett Team Katusha – Alpecin
101 Thomas Stewart Canyon DHB
102 Jonathan McEvoy Madison – Genesis
103 Lasse Norman Hansen Corendon – Circus
104 Ben Hardy SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling
105 Andrew Tennant Canyon DHB
106 Jake Stewart Great Britain Cycling Team
107 Rhys Britton Great Britain Cycling Team
108 Dries De Bondt Corendon – Circus @ 13:38
109 Tristan Robbins SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 15:54
110 Rasmus Byriel Iversen Lotto – Soudal

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OVERALL
1 Mathieu van der Poel Corendon – Circus 25:58:25
2 Matteo Trentin Mitchelton – Scott @ 12
3 Jasper De Buyst Lotto – Soudal @ 40
4 Pavel Sivakov Team Ineos @ 42
5 Nils Politt Team Katusha – Alpecin @ 51
6 Gianni Moscon Team Ineos @ 51
7 Mike Teunissen Team Jumbo – Visma @ 53
8 Andrey Amador Movistar Team @ 57
9 Tiesj Benoot Lotto – Soudal @ 57
10 Amund Grøndahl Jansen Team Jumbo – Visma @ 58
11 Simon Clarke EF Education First @ 58
12 Tanel Kangert EF Education First @ 01:00
13 Lawrence Warbasse AG2R La Mondiale @ 01:15
14 Xandro Meurisse Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 01:17
15 Chris Hamilton Team Sunweb @ 01:24
16 Ben Swift Team Ineos @ 01:25
17 Alexander Kamp Riwal Readynez @ 01:28
18 Matthew Holmes Madison – Genesis @ 01:30
19 Mark Christian Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 01:34
20 Ben Hermans Israel Cycling Academy @ 01:39
21 Danilo Wyss Team Dimension Data @ 01:48
22 Mickaël Cherel AG2R La Mondiale @ 01:58
23 Connor Swift Great Britain Cycling Team @ 02:09
24 James Shaw SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 02:14
25 Thomas Sprengers Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ 02:17
26 Brent Van Moer Lotto – Soudal @ 02:18
27 Mark Donovan Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 02:29
28 Alex Edmondson Mitchelton – Scott @ 02:41
29 Tom Van Asbroeck Israel Cycling Academy @ 02:42
30 Luke Durbridge Mitchelton – Scott @ 02:45
31 Eduardo Sepulveda Movistar Team @ 02:47
32 Cameron Meyer Mitchelton – Scott @ 03:05
33 Michal Golas Team Ineos @ 03:34
34 Lucas Eriksson Riwal Readynez @ 04:45
35 Julien Vermote Team Dimension Data @ 05:22
36 Florian Stork Team Sunweb @ 06:13
37 Ryan Christensen Canyon DHB @ 06:36
38 Jimmy Janssens Corendon – Circus @ 08:48
39 Ben Gastauer AG2R La Mondiale @ 09:12
40 Tony Gallopin AG2R La Mondiale @ 09:25
41 Thimo Willems Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ 09:54
42 Sebastian Langeveld EF Education First @ 10:05
43 Aaron Verwilst Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ 10:17
44 Sindre Skjøstad Lunke Riwal Readynez @ 10:52
45 Carlos Barbero Movistar Team @ 11:54
46 Mikel Landa Movistar Team @ 12:20
47 Jos Van Emden Team Jumbo – Visma @ 13:13
48 Dylan Van Baarle Team Ineos @ 13:56
49 Otto Vergaerde Corendon – Circus @ 14:15
50 Carlos Verona Movistar Team @ 14:24
51 Emil Nygaard Vinjebo Riwal Readynez @ 14:32
52 Omer Goldstein Israel Cycling Academy @ 15:18
53 Davide Cimolai Israel Cycling Academy @ 17:05
54 Chad Haga Team Sunweb @ 18:24
55 Axel Domont AG2R La Mondiale @ 18:27
56 Philip Walsleben Corendon – Circus @ 18:33
57 Edward Dunbar Team Ineos @ 21:12
58 Matthew Walls Great Britain Cycling Team @ 21:42
59 Jack Bauer Mitchelton – Scott @ 22:01
60 Ethan Vernon Great Britain Cycling Team @ 22:44
61 Benjamin Perry Israel Cycling Academy @ 22:47
62 Alex Colman Canyon DHB @ 24:06
63 Jens Debusschere Team Katusha – Alpecin @ 24:08
64 Nils Eekhoff Team Sunweb @ 24:52
65 Sacha Modolo EF Education First @ 25:33
66 Dylan Groenewegen Team Jumbo – Visma @ 26:15
67 Conor Dunne Israel Cycling Academy @ 26:19
68 Gabriel Cullaigh Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 26:26
69 Edward Laverack SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 26:41
70 Jake Stewart Great Britain Cycling Team @ 26:52
71 Trond Håkon Trondsen Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 26:57
72 Christophe Noppe Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ 26:58
73 Boris Vallée Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 27:10
74 Wesley Kreder Wanty – Groupe Gobert @ 28:01
75 Mark Renshaw Team Dimension Data @ 28:15
76 Jim Brown Great Britain Cycling Team @ 28:20
77 Samuel Jenner Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 28:33
78 Alex Dowsett Team Katusha – Alpecin @ 29:27
79 Robert Scott Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 29:54
80 Hector Carretero Movistar Team @ 30:10
81 Peter Williams SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 30:42
82 Jacob Scott SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 31:58
83 Rhys Britton Great Britain Cycling Team @ 32:29
84 Roy Curvers Team Sunweb @ 33:10
85 Gediminas Bagdonas AG2R La Mondiale @ 33:29
86 Harry Tanfield Team Katusha – Alpecin @ 33:42
87 Mark Cavendish Team Dimension Data @ 33:54
88 Joey Walker Madison – Genesis @ 34:31
89 Edoardo Affini Mitchelton – Scott @ 34:33
90 Cees Bol Team Sunweb @ 34:43
91 Lasse Norman Hansen Corendon – Circus @ 36:28
92 Remy Mertz Lotto – Soudal @ 36:48
93 Erick Rowsell Madison – Genesis @ 37:03
94 James Fouche Team Wiggins-Le Col @ 37:14
95 Frederik Frison Lotto – Soudal @ 37:32
96 Jonathan Dibben Madison – Genesis @ 37:47
97 Rory Townsend Canyon DHB @ 38:31
98 Matthew Bostock Canyon DHB @ 38:36
99 Andreas Stokbro Nielsen Riwal Readynez @ 38:59
100 Ben Hardy SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 40:09
101 Michael Cuming Madison – Genesis @ 40:54
102 Koen Bouwman Team Jumbo – Visma @ 42:18
103 Dries De Bondt Corendon – Circus @ 42:51
104 Torkil Veyhe Riwal Readynez @ 42:56
105 Bernhard Eisel Team Dimension Data @ 43:27
106 Thomas Stewart Canyon DHB @ 45:42
107 Jonathan McEvoy Madison – Genesis @ 45:43
108 Andrew Tennant Canyon DHB @ 52:52
109 Rasmus Byriel Iversen Lotto – Soudal @ 57:37
110 Tristan Robbins SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling @ 01:10:25