Tour of Britain: Stage 4 – Welshpool to Caerphilly

It doesn’t get much better for a race when the World Champion crosses the line first and that is what happened on stage 4 into Caerphilly as Thor Hushovd got the better of Lars Boom.

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The day started and finished in a castle within Wales and the route for the race was expected to blow the field apart as it crossed the Brecon Beacons and then Caerphilly Mountain at the end.  There was certainly a longer more sustain period of attacking at the start with teams such AN Post, Rapha, Endura Racing and Sky all giving it a good go to make the break.

Finally though, Jack Bauer of Endura Racing was the one who succeeded in igniting the race good and proper as he escaped with Pieter Ghyllebert who has been one of a few riders who have really made this race so far. The leader of the Sprints classification drove the break hard and Rapha’s Kristian House joined them to make three really strong riders out front.

The Photo Album – 200 plus pictures of all the action in today’s stage

The shutters went down in the bunch as Theo Bos of Rabobank, went to the front and rode tempo as the trio out front snaffled up points in the Sprint and KoM competition. There was a long period of not a lot happening as the bunch was happy to ride along prior to the first category climb in the Brecon mountains. This was where the race was expected to blow apart but the wind had lost its puff and the gradual wide open roads of this mountain failed to trouble the majority of the riders despite the attacking from teams such as Sky, Leopard Trek, Garmin and Sigma sport Specialized.

With  that, Rabobank took over the pace making again and it was going to be down to the final mountain in Caerphilly to settle the stage. The break who had managed to hold off the bunch for longer than the chasers expected got to the mountain as the peloton did and it was a free for all up the steep but not hugely difficult climb.

It was of course packed with people and Rapha’s Jon Locke yet again showed what a great little climber he is as he topped the mountain from the main who had tamed Contador earlier in the year, Steve Cummings. Riders from Nett App were coming into their own and Thomas de Gent was also showing he had good legs. Endura Racing’s Iker Camano was in the top 10 and Lars Boom was also in touch with the leader as was Thor Hushovd.

One the steepish but fast descent on wide open roads, the World Champion made up any lost ground as did Boom and company and in the sprint for the line, Hushovd provided the sight of the race so far, the World Champion crossing the line arms aloft. It had been a different outcome to the race than was expected but was still the most exciting stage by far, very exciting indeed.

Afterwards in a whistle stop press conference, Lars Boom said “I’m a little bit disappointed that I got second behind Hushovd but he’s a good winner of course.”

“The team was strong today and did their job. We let a breakaway of three guys go and gave them five or six minutes so Sky had to try to chase the win for Thomas, so that was the main goal and I think we succeeded in that. We controlled the race.”

Photo Report
Thanks to Graham Harper (Welsh NEG) for helping in getting these images)

Lars Boom, in Gold for another day after a strong performance in the mountains of Wales.

Cav, Lars and Russell roll out of Welshpool and the castle used for the stage start.

Great crowds in Welshpool welcome the riders in the 2011 Tour of Britain

First attacker of the day was Paul Voss of Endura Racing

Pieter Ghyllebert leads Jack Bauer (Endura Racing) in the key move of the day with Kristian House bridging the gap in the background.

On the Cat 1 climb of the day and Russell Hampton attacks the peloton to get some points in the KoM competition.

Despite Team Sky putting the hammer down on the climbs and across the moors, and attacks from other teams as well, the peloton crossed the area intact.

Jon Locke is first to the top of Caerphilly mountain chased by Steve Cummings.

Lars Boom and Geraint Thomas go head to head up Caerphilly mountain behind Jon Locke.

Thor Hushovd, world champion, battles the sprint up Caerphilly Mountain and goes on to win the stage.

Bernie Eisel injects some humour into the race, stopping, getting off his bike and clapping some riders through, this one being Mark Renshaw.

Mark Cavendish battles the gradient of Caerphilly Mountain.

The riders had a picturesque and relaxing area to sit down in before lining up for the race.

With Caerphilly Castle in the background, Lars Boom is presented to the crowd in the Gold jersey.

Live Pictures (89 photos from the day with the riders in the race)
(If the slideshow is not visible in your browser, click here to view them on Flickr)

Results

Stage Four, Powis Castle, Welshpool to Caerphilly
1    Thor Hushovd    Team Garmin – Cervelo        4h 32′ 22”
2    Lars Boom    Rabobank        st
3    Cesare Benedetti    Team NetApp        st
4    Ian Bibby    Motorpoint        st
5    Boy Van Poppel    UnitedHealthcare        st
6    Jan Barta    Team NetApp        st
7    Stijn Neirynck    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
8    Leopold Koenig    Team NetApp        st
9    Iker Camano    Endura Racing        st
10    Linus Gerdemann    Leopard Trek        st
11    Geraint Thomas    Sky ProCycling        st
12    Daniel Lloyd    Team Garmin – Cervelo        st
13    Thomas De Gendt    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
14    Bartosz Huzarski    Team NetApp        st
15    Jan-Bert Lindeman**    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
16    Stephen Cummings    Sky ProCycling        st
17    Jonathan Tiernan Locke    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
18    Franck Bouyer    Team Europcar        st
19    Jelle Wallays**    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
20    Bram Tankink    Rabobank        st
21    Dan Fleeman    Team Raleigh        st
22    Lars Bak    HTC Highroad        st
23    Julian Dean    Team Garmin – Cervelo    at    0′ 6”
24    Rory Sutherland    UnitedHealthcare        st
25    Kenny De Ketele    Topsport Vlaanderen    at    0′ 20”
26    Joost Posthuma    Leopard Trek        st
27    Preben Van Hecke    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
28    Jack Bauer    Endura Racing        st
29    Jonathan McEvoy**    Motorpoint        st
30    Dominic Klemme    Leopard Trek        st
31    Simon Richardson    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
32    Paul Voss    Endura Racing        st
33    Alexandre Pichot    Team Europcar        st
34    Andrew Fenn**    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
35    Russell Hampton    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
36    Liam Holohan    Team Raleigh        st
37    Rene Mandri    Endura Racing        st
38    Gabriel Rasch    Team Garmin – Cervelo        st
39    Gael Le Bellec    Team Raleigh        st
40    Anthony Charteau    Team Europcar        st
41    Michael Rogers    Sky ProCycling        st
42    Ronan McLaughlin    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
43    Dan Craven    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
44    Mark Cavendish    HTC Highroad    at    0′ 31”
45    Marcin Bialoblocki    Motorpoint        st
46    Mark McNally**    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
47    Wouter Sybrandy    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
48    Zak Dempster    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
49    Lieuwe Westra    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
50    Chris Jones    UnitedHealthcare        st
51    Steve Lampier    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
52    Richard Handley**    Team Raleigh    at    0′ 37”
53    Alex Wetterall    Endura Racing    at    1′ 17”
54    Willem Wauters**    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
55    Gediminas Bagdonas    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
56    James Sampson    Motorpoint        st
57    Tom Murray    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
58    Mark Renshaw    HTC Highroad        st
59    Yohann Gene    Team Europcar        st
60    Michael Matthews**    Rabobank        st
61    Will Clarke    Leopard Trek        st
62    Giacomo Nizzolo**    Leopard Trek        st
63    Tom Last    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
64    Roger Hammond    Team Garmin – Cervelo        st
65    Andreas Dietziker    Team NetApp        st
66    Ian Wilkinson    Endura Racing    at    2′ 11”
67    Mathieu Claude    Team Europcar        st
68    Tobyn Horton    Motorpoint        st
69    Jamie Sparling    Team Raleigh        st
70    Dominique Cornu    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
71    Daniel Schorn    Team NetApp        st
72    Peter Williams    Motorpoint        st
73    Stijn Joseph    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
74    Matt Brammeier    HTC Highroad        st
75    Andy Tennant    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    3′ 2”
76    Karl Menzies    UnitedHealthcare    at    3′ 12”
77    Robert Förster    UnitedHealthcare        st
78    Mathew Hayman    Sky ProCycling    at    3′ 32”
79    Alex Dowsett    Sky ProCycling        st
80    Alex Rasmussen    HTC Highroad        st
81    Bernhard Eisel    HTC Highroad    at    3′ 35”
82    Ben Swift    Sky ProCycling        st
83    Damien Gaudin    Team Europcar        st
84    Kristian House    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
85    Mark Cassidy    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
86    Jeroen Janssen    Team Raleigh    at    4′ 25”
87    Pieter Ghyllebert    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    4′ 27”
88    Rik Flens    Rabobank        st
89    Coen Vermeltfoort    Rabobank        st
90    Jonathan Clarke    UnitedHealthcare        st
91    Graham Briggs    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    4′ 58”

Combativity Award: Kristian House (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp)

Overall General Classification, after Stage Four
1  Lars Boom    Rabobank        12h 36′ 51”
2    Geraint Thomas    Sky ProCycling    at    0′ 12”
3    Boy Van Poppel    UnitedHealthcare    at    0′ 14”
4    Ian Bibby    Motorpoint    at    0′ 19”
5    Linus Gerdemann    Leopard Trek        st
6    Daniel Lloyd    Team Garmin – Cervelo        st
7    Stephen Cummings    Sky ProCycling        st
8    Jan-Bert Lindeman**    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
9    Jan Barta    Team NetApp        st
10    Jelle Wallays**    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
11    Bram Tankink    Rabobank        st
12    Leopold Koenig    Team NetApp        st
13    Jonathan Tiernan Locke    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
14    Andrew Fenn**    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    0′ 34”
15    Rory Sutherland    UnitedHealthcare    at    0′ 37”
16    Iker Camano    Endura Racing        st
17    Joost Posthuma    Leopard Trek    at    0′ 39”
18    Dominic Klemme    Leopard Trek        st
19    Mark Cavendish    HTC Highroad    at    0′ 40”
20    Michael Rogers    Sky ProCycling    at    0′ 46”
21    Dan Craven    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    0′ 48”
22    Russell Hampton    Sigma Sport-Specialized    at    1′ 5”
23    Michael Matthews**    Rabobank    at    1′ 30”
24    Lars Bak    HTC Highroad    at    2′ 46”
25    Ben Swift    Sky ProCycling    at    4′ 6”
26    Stijn Neirynck    Topsport Vlaanderen    at    4′ 16”
27    Mathew Hayman    Sky ProCycling        st
28    Thomas De Gendt    Vacansoleil – DCM    at    4′ 18”
29    Alex Dowsett    Sky ProCycling    at    4′ 45”
30    Willem Wauters**    Vacansoleil – DCM    at    6′ 0”
31    Bernhard Eisel    HTC Highroad    at    6′ 10”
32    Anthony Charteau    Team Europcar    at    6′ 20”
33    Kristian House    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    7′ 50”
34    Thor Hushovd    Team Garmin – Cervelo    at    7′ 54”
35    Bartosz Huzarski    Team NetApp    at    8′ 4”
36    Dan Fleeman    Team Raleigh        st
37    Julian Dean    Team Garmin – Cervelo    at    8′ 10”
38    Jack Bauer    Endura Racing    at    8′ 18”
39    Jonathan McEvoy**    Motorpoint    at    8′ 24”
40    Simon Richardson    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
41    Alexandre Pichot    Team Europcar        st
42    Liam Holohan    Team Raleigh        st
43    Paul Voss    Endura Racing        st
44    Gabriel Rasch    Team Garmin – Cervelo        st
45    Rene Mandri    Endura Racing        st
46    Mark McNally**    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    8′ 35”
47    Chris Jones    UnitedHealthcare        st
48    Zak Dempster    Rapha Condor – Sharp        st
49    Lieuwe Westra    Vacansoleil – DCM        st
50    Gael Le Bellec    Team Raleigh    at    8′ 57”
51    Marcin Bialoblocki    Motorpoint    at    9′ 0”
52    Roger Hammond    Team Garmin – Cervelo    at    9′ 21”
53    Gediminas Bagdonas    An Post – Sean Kelly        st
54    Tobyn Horton    Motorpoint    at    10′ 15”
55    Giacomo Nizzolo**    Leopard Trek    at    10′ 23”
56    Tom Murray    Sigma Sport-Specialized    at    10′ 25”
57    Andy Tennant    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    11′ 6”
58    Robert Förster    UnitedHealthcare    at    11′ 16”
59    Dominique Cornu    Topsport Vlaanderen    at    11′ 19”
60    Karl Menzies    UnitedHealthcare    at    11′ 49”
61    Cesare Benedetti    Team NetApp    at    12′ 27”
62    Franck Bouyer    Team Europcar    at    12′ 31”
63    Coen Vermeltfoort    Rabobank        st
64    Pieter Ghyllebert    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    12′ 38”
65    Ronan McLaughlin    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    12′ 51”
66    Rik Flens    Rabobank    at    12′ 56”
67    Wouter Sybrandy    Sigma Sport-Specialized    at    13′ 2”
68    Richard Handley**    Team Raleigh    at    13′ 8”
69    Steve Lampier    Sigma Sport-Specialized    at    13′ 29”
70    Mark Renshaw    HTC Highroad    at    13′ 42”
71    Alex Wetterall    Endura Racing    at    13′ 48”
72    Andreas Dietziker    Team NetApp        st
73    Kenny De Ketele    Topsport Vlaanderen    at    13′ 55”
74    Preben Van Hecke    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
75    Will Clarke    Leopard Trek    at    14′ 6”
76    Yohann Gene    Team Europcar    at    14′ 13”
77    James Sampson    Motorpoint    at    14′ 21”
78    Tom Last    Sigma Sport-Specialized        st
79    Peter Williams    Motorpoint    at    14′ 41”
80    Ian Wilkinson    Endura Racing    at    14′ 42”
81    Stijn Joseph    Topsport Vlaanderen        st
82    Daniel Schorn    Team NetApp        st
83    Mathieu Claude    Team Europcar        st
84    Matt Brammeier    HTC Highroad    at    15′ 3”
85    Jamie Sparling    Team Raleigh    at    15′ 7”
86    Alex Rasmussen    HTC Highroad    at    16′ 3”
87    Damien Gaudin    Team Europcar    at    16′ 6”
88    Mark Cassidy    An Post – Sean Kelly    at    16′ 27”
89    Graham Briggs    Rapha Condor – Sharp    at    17′ 29”
90    Jeroen Janssen    Team Raleigh        st
91    Jonathan Clarke    UnitedHealthcare    at    18′ 2”

The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Classification, after Stage Four
1. Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank. 37pts
2. Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling. 29pts
3. Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad. 26pts
4. Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint. 25pts
5. Thor Hushovd (Nor, Garmin Cervelo. 15pts
6. Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank. 14pts
7. Mark Renshaw (Aus, HTC Highroad. 14pts
8. Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek. 13pts
9. Cesare Benedetti (Ita, Team NetApp. 13pts
10. Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling. 12pts

Skoda King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Four
1. Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized. 39pts
2. Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp. 32pts
3. Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling. 21pts
4. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post. 19pts
5. Jack Bauer (NZ, Endura Racing. 14pts

Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Four
1. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post. 32pts
2. Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized. 13pts
3. Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post. 10pts
4. Jack Bauer (NZ, Endura Racing. 9pts
5. Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare. 8pts

UNISON Best Young Rider Classification, after Stage Four
1. Jan-Bert Lindemann (Ned, Vacansoleil DCM. 12h 37m 10s
2. Jelle Wallays (Bel, Topsport Vlaanderen. same time
3. Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post. @ 0.15
4. Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank. @ 1.11
5. Willem Wauters (Bel, Vacansoleil DCM. @ 5.41

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)

Rider List
Coming ….

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