Report & Results – Stage 3: Tour of Britain

Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory on the third stage of the Tour of Britain after a near-perfect lead-out from his Team Sky team-mates – Aussie Leigh Howard leads overall

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Stage 3: Jedburgh to Dumfries – 161 km(Tuesday 11th)

Mark Cavendish took victory in Dumfries for the second year in succession, sprinting to the win in Stage Three of The Tour of Britain ahead of Orica GreenEDGE duo Leigh Howard and Aidis Kruopis.

The win, potentially Cavendish’s last win in the rainbow stripes of World Champion, moves him level with new race leader Howard, who takes the IG Gold Jersey a day after winning in Knowsley Safari Park.

Cavendish now lies second, equal on time with Howard, with overnight leader Boy Van Poppel dropping back to third place, level with Stage One winner Luke Rowe.

Rowe gave Cavendish his final leadout, taking fourth on the stage himself, after Team Sky pulled back breakaway duo Sep Vanmarcke and Wesley Kreder with two kilometres remaining.

The BIG Photo Album of the Stage

After starting in sunny conditions outside Jedburgh’s famous abbey the peloton experienced all four seasons in one-day on route to Dumfries, with several riders electing to spend the day off the front of the peloton.

Amongst the escapees was Peter Williams for the second day running, with the Node4 – Giordana Racing rider extending his lead in the Yodel Sprints classification, sponsored by parcel delivery company, Yodel.

Joining Williams on the attack was Rapha Condor’s Kristian House, who retook the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey, Vacansoleil DCM’s Kreder, Bernard Sulzberger and Team IG – Sigma Sport’s Peter Hawkins, who earned the Rouleur Combativity Award for his efforts in instigating the break.

Team Sky Mark Cavendish’s said: “I’m delighted. We tried a few different things yesterday which didn’t quite work out, so [Sports Director] Servais Knaven told us to keep things simple today and go for the sprint. We’ve got the team here who can do a brilliant lead out and it was pretty straightforward in the end.

“We didn’t have to control today, because we didn’t have the jersey, and that worked in our favour because it meant we could use everybody up at the end. We always had those breakaway riders in our sights. Christian, Brad and Jez all did massive pulls and were able to line it out and bring everything back together at just the right time. It was great for me to be able to sit on the wheel while they were doing all the work.”

“There’s only six riders per team here so the guys had to do long pulls. Bernie did almost a one-kilometre turn and then Luke went with just under 1km to go – which is far longer than the usual 400m for a lead-out man – and he rode it perfectly into the last corner.

“I knew the finish, that it would have a tailwind going downhill, so that meant I could go early, and I’m really happy to get the win.”

“On the first day, what can you do [when you crash] then yesterday we tried something different….but today we were told to follow the script – straight up you sprint – so that’s what we did.

“It’s the exact same finish [as last year], it was alright, it’s just about getting there. The lads were wicked. It was [Luke] Rowe, he is such a good bike rider you know. He could win the overall. He went, all the guys went long and he just had to go. Brad [Wiggins] just put a monster turn on through the hardest bit to bring them back.”

“It’s great, like it’s been on every stage. This Tour of Britain has been great. Obviously with Brad winning the yellow jersey at The Tour and everybody is behind it. Especially when it’s pissing with rain, there were people still out watching, some in t-shirts so it was nice to see.”

Mark Cavendish and Luke Rowe

Leigh Howard, Orica GreenEDGE, IG Gold Jersey – “I’ve been working really hard all year, and working hard for another team mate so it’s nice to have the leader’s role here and try and fulfil it as best I can. So far, all is going well.

“The crowds are unbelievable, the first day I have never seen crowds like it. And event the next two stages, through the week and with the rain, there are people all along the roads so it’s nice to see.”

On the same time as Mark Cavendish, Leigh Howard is the overall leader of the 2012 Tour of Britain after three stages.

Boy Van Poppel of UnitedHealthcare lost the IG Gold Jersey (below) during cold conditions in Stage Three but received the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey in its place, in the colour blue, and he was feeling it too!

“It was really cold and windy but I had the gold jersey and it was really cool to have it and see my team riding at the front so it was really nice.

“Today was good. I was on the wheel of Mark Cavendish the last few kilometres and then it was so hectic, everyone wanted to be in that position so I lost it in the last kilometre so I ended up seventh. That is really bad as I now lose the jersey but I still have the points jersey.”

He’s enjoying the atmosphere and has seen The Tour grow over the past few years.

“It’s amazing. Compared to the other years, there was a massive pack of people.”

Looking ahead to Stage Six in Wales, Van Poppel finished fifth there last year so he knows how tough the week ahead will be.

“That is a really hard stage. We did the hill only once last year, now we do it twice so that is going to be really tough.”

Van Poppel is hoping to help keep the crowds happy by getting the golden glow back from the jersey, and possibly even some sun!

PHOTO REPORT (thanks to Nigel Summers for piloting us during the stage)

The jersey wearers at the front of the peloton as they roll out for stage 3 in Scotland.

From the start, the riders were climbing, and climbing and more climbing just to get out of Jedburgh … lovely place though!

An Post on the attack on their Dolan bikes from the moment the flag was dropped.

Richard Handley has a go at getting in a break with George Atkins and Paul Voss (Endura Racing)

There were no breaks before the first sprint won by Luke Rowe with the yellow jersey not far away.

Then after the sprint, Pete Williams and Chris Opie tried to get away and surprisingly, the peloton said no!

A winner of a stage in the Tour de France, Magnus Backstedt also tried again and again to get in a move.

An Post rider on the Dolan bike, Pieter Ghyllebert, tried his luck to force a break.

Finally a break stuck with Bernie Sulzberger of Raleigh-GAC in it along with Kristian House, Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) , Pete Williams and Wesley Kreder.  This break was reduced to two in the final 20 miles when Dutchman Wesley Kreder and Irishman Peter Hawkins pulled clear with 24km to go. Belgian Sep Vanmarcke closed the gap before Hawkins fell away with 10km remaining. Team Sky then took up the chase with Wiggins pulling them along and their sprint Cavendish delivered the victory they had worked for in Dumfries

The riders from United Healthcare were the team that kept the break in check until the final kilometres.

It was cold and wet and a strong headwind made it hard work for the break in the picturesque Scottish Borders

Pete Williams scoring points in the second of the Yodel Sprints

The break comes in Dumfries the first time in pouring rain with 20 miles left to do by which time the sun had come out!

It was a comprehensive win by Cavendish for stage 3.

Guess it was Scotland for the stage today ….

Peter Hawkins was delighted with his cheezy prize for the most combativity award sponsored by Rouleur

Pete Williams worked hard for the second day in a row to keep his sprints jersey.

RESULTS

Stage 3

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

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

Rouleur Combativity Award: Peter Hawkins, IRL, Team IG – Sigma Sport

Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification, after Stage Three

1) Boy Van Poppel, NED, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, 36pts
2) Russell Downing, GBR, Endura Racing, 34pts
3) Luke Rowe, GBR, Team Sky, 33pts
4) Leigh Howard, AUS, Orica GreenEDGE, 29pts
5) Mark Cavendish, GBR, Team Sky, 29pts

SKODA King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Three
1) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 46pts
2) Pablo Urtasun, SPA, Euskaltel – Euskadi, 41pts
3) Richard Handley, GBR, Rapha Condor, 32pts
4) Peter Williams, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 32pts
5) Russell Hampton, GBR, Team Raleigh – GAC, 28pts

Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Three
1) Peter Williams, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 27pts
2) Rony Martias, FRA, Saur Sojasun, 12pts
3) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 10pts
4) Jonny Clarke, AUS, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, 7pts
5) Matthias Krizek, AUT, Liquigas – Cannondale, 7pts

Team General Classification, after Stage Three
1) Garmin – Sharp, USA, 39:50:12
2) Team Sky, GBR, + 0.02
3) Endura Racing, GBR, same time
4) Saur Sojasun, FRA, + 0.03
5) Team UK Youth, GBR, same time

 

 

 

 

 

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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)

 

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