With the excitement of the Vuelta - in particular today's drama - and the Pro Tour races in Quebec some may have forgotten that the Tour of Britain started today. Chris promised more in depth coverage so I'll refrain from a preview of either course or contenders. But as the first stage is over thought I'd set this up to let people know what's happened. Results of the first stage on the flip...
So today's stage was 132 km from Rochdale - large post-industrial town in the greater Manchester connurbation - to Blackpool - slightly naff northern seaside ride famous for its tower and pleasure beach (think rollercoasters). The stage was marked by a breakaway in the first 25 km (Richie Porte (Saxo Bank), Jack Bauer (Endura Racing) and Wout Poels (Vacansoleil)) caught near the finish by the HTC-Columbia and Sky-led peloton. Andre Greipel won the bunch sprint and took the leader's jersey thanks to bonus seconds.
Top ten on the stage:
1 | 12 | Andre Greipel | Team HTC-Columbia | 3:16:48 | |
2 | 71 | Manuel Belletti | Colnago-CSF Inox | st | |
3 | 5 | Greg Henderson | Sky Pro Cycling Team | st | |
4 | 36 | Alex Rasmussen | Team Saxo Bank | st | |
5 | 116 | Martin Reimer | Cervelo Test Team | st | |
6 | 126 | Robert Wagner | Skil-Shimano | st | |
7 | 73 | Gianlucia Brambilla | Colnago-CSF Inox | st | |
8 | 82 | Edward Clancy | Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta | st | |
9 | 3 | Russell Downing | Sky Pro Cycling Team | st | |
10 | 106 | Michael Van Stayen | Topsport Vlaanderen | st |
And the GC:
1 | 12 | Andre Greipel | Team HTC-Columbia | 3:16:36 | |
2 | 71 | Manuel Belletti | Colnago-CSF Inox | at | 0:06 |
3 | 5 | Greg Henderson | Sky Pro Cycling Team | at | 0:08 |
4 | 3 | Russell Downing | Sky Pro Cycling Team | st | |
5 | 35 | Richie Porte | Team Saxo Bank | at | 0:09 |
6 | 116 | Martin Reimer | Cervelo Test Team | at | 0:11 |
7 | 136 | Wout Poels | Vacansoleil Pro Cycling | st | |
8 | 36 | Alex Rasmussen | Team Saxo Bank | at | 0:12 |
9 | 126 | Robert Wagner | Skil-Shimano | st | |
10 | 73 | Gianlucia Brambilla | Colnago-CSF Inox | st |
Greipel also leads the points, Porte heads up the sprints and Poels has the "mountains" jersey.