Report & Results – Stage 4: Tour of Britain

Double for Cavendish as he wins into Blackpool and takes the leader’s jersey as Sky and Endura Racing split the race wide open

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Stage 4: Carlisle to Blackpool – 156 km (Wednesday 12th)
(thanks to Nigel Summers for helping is bring the photos to you) 

Last year he was in the ball room presenting the mayor with a leader’s jersey, this year it was Cavendish who was getting the leader’s jersey after winning the sprint into Blackpool.

After Orica GreenEdge had done the donkey work early on to contain the lead of the break, Team Sky were totally dominant by splitting the peloton to shreds on the approach to Blackpool before peeling off in turn and unleashing the world champion along the windswept sea-front to wrap up his second consecutive victory.

Time bonuses at the line saw Cavendish open up a six-second lead in the general classification and take control of the IG Markets gold jersey.

Matt Cronshaw goes it alone with still over 20 miles to go.

The action had commenced under leaden skies in Carlisle, with King of the Mountains jersey holder Kristian House (Rapha-Condor Sharp) slipping away early once again and being joined by five further riders who built up a lead of almost seven minutes within the first 32km of racing.

Once the day’s three categorised climbs had been contested, and the lead coming down to under two minutes, Matt Cronshaw (Node 4 Giordana) attacked to to and get some momentum going. House and Niklas Gustavsson (UK Youth) then dropped out of the break, leaving Matt Cronshaw (Node 4), David Le Lay (Saur–Sojasun), Dan Craven (Team IG Sigma Sport) and Ronan McLaughlin (An Post-Sean Kelly) to battle on as a foursome.

The BIG Photo Album from Stage 4

Their days were numbered though when Bradley Wiggins and Christian Knees began drilling it on the front, and the pace that duo set in the crosswinds coming in off the sea cut the peloton to around 25 riders before they swept up the remnants of the break inside the last 8km. It was then that Team Sky’s sprint train came into effect, and Bernhard Eisel produced a huge turn before Wiggins and Luke Rowe led out the Manxman.

Kristian House won all the King of the Mountains sprints to increase his lead in that competition.

Cavendish had waited patiently on Leigh Howard’s wheel, but kicked past the Orica-GreenEdge man on the closing straight before a ‘quiet’ celebration as he crossed the line first. Steele Von Hoff (Garmin–Sharp) took second place on the day, with Australian compatriot Howard one spot behind him in third.

Mark Cavendish said afterwards “Bradley [Wiggins] lives not far from Blackpool and the route included a lot of the roads he uses for training. He told us it was very open, and very windy, and he knew the exact place we should go on the attack. It was the perfect call.”

The final miles saw a lot of water on the road for the riders to race through.

“It was a grim day but we ploughed through and waited until that moment 22km from home to split things apart, and although it was difficult to do that with a small team, the fact Endura were riding as well made it easier. On those last 5km along the front, we just made it so fast that nobody else could get close to us.”

“We’d expected a crosswind, but in the end it felt like a tailwind, and we were flying. Luke’s going for the overall so we tried to let him get a bit of a gap like the other day, but then Leigh Howard jumped so I had to go with him, and then it was quite straightforward for me in the sprint.”

On the overall, he says, “I won’t win it, I’ll lose it tomorrow. But hopefully we’ll win it with the team – we’ve a really strong team. It’s difficult with only six riders so you have to rely on the other teams and try and collaborate. We’ve got options but we’re really having a good time and enjoying riding together.”

“We didn’t try and split it to do anything on the GC, we were just having a bit of fun really. It makes the group a bit smaller for the sprint as well. It’s still early in the race and I still have fresh legs so it’s nice for the sprint and just makes it a little bit safer.”

On the weather… “It’s good, I am used to it. Nobody enjoys it but I kind of adapt to it so it doesn’t bother me.”

Cavendish came to the front in the feed zone to ensure he got his musette

The first KoM was chaos with the huge crowds which saw Kristian House win more points in the Skoda King of the Mountains competition.

Matt Cronshaw and Niklas Gustavsson battle it out in the Sprints during the stage.

It wasn’t long before riders were heading back to the cars for rain capes.  Jonathan Tiernan-Locke  grapples with his Endura one in the strong winds.

It was cold, it was wet and Aussie Richard Lang gives us the thumbs up as Russell Downing (Endura racing) is clearly not enjoying it!

The first break goes away and is driven here by Dan Craven (IG Sigma Sport)

The bunch was quick to sit up today. Wiggins and Basso have a chat at the front.

The Cavendish press conference was packed …

Peter Hawkins and his red numbers from being the winner of the combativity award on stage 3.

Raleigh’s Russell Hampton with some secret energy food… Nutella!

Ivan Basso is interviewed by BBC Cumbria

RESULTS

Stage Four, Carlisle to Blackpool, 156km
1 Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling 3h 51′ 33”
2 Steele Von Hoff Garmin – Sharp st
3 Leigh Howard Orica – GreenEDGE st
4 Boy Van Poppel UnitedHealthcare st
5 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp st
6 Russell Downing Endura Racing st
7 Magnus Backstedt UK Youth Cycling st
8 Sep Vanmarcke Garmin – Sharp st
9 Rony Martias Saur Sojasun st
10 Luke Rowe Sky Procycling st
11 Peter Williams Node 4 – Giordana st
12 Damiano Caruso Liquigas – Cannondale st
13 Nathan Haas Garmin – Sharp st
14 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Endura Racing st
15 Yanto Barker UK Youth Cycling st
16 Brett Lancaster Orica – GreenEDGE st
17 Christopher Jones UnitedHealthcare st
18 Christian Knees Sky Procycling st
19 Bartosz Huzarski Team NetApp st
20 Zak Dempster Endura Racing at 0′ 9”
21 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling st
22 David Lelay Saur Sojasun st
23 Dan Craven IG – Sigma Sport at 0′ 11”
24 Ronan Mclaughlin An Post Sean Kelly at 0′ 39”
25 Mathew Cronshaw Node 4 – Giordana at 0′ 43”
26 Bernhard Eisel Sky Procycling at 1′ 5”
27 Jeremy Hunt Sky Procycling st
28 David Clarke Node 4 – Giordana at 2′ 14”
29 Simon Yates Great Britain at 3′ 37”
30 Ben Grenda Rapha Condor st
31 Richard Lang Rapha Condor st
32 Ian Bibby Endura Racing st
33 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post Sean Kelly st
34 Chris Opie UK Youth Cycling st
35 Tom Moses Great Britain st
36 Alistair Slater Great Britain st
37 Wouter Sybrandy IG – Sigma Sport st
38 Richard Handley Rapha Condor st
39 Jacek Morajko Vacansoleil – DCM st
40 David McGowan UK Youth Cycling st
41 Jan Barta Team NetApp st
42 Jonathan McEvoy Endura Racing st
43 Christofer Stevenson UK Youth Cycling st
44 Mark McNally An Post Sean Kelly st
45 Paolo Longo Borghini Liquigas – Cannondale st
46 Michael Northey Node 4 – Giordana st
47 Jérémie Galland Saur Sojasun st
48 Marcin Bialoblocki Node 4 – Giordana st
49 Yannick Talabardon Saur Sojasun st
50 Adrian Saez de Arregui Euskaltel Euskadi st
51 Kai Reus UnitedHealthcare st
52 Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel Euskadi st
53 Jonny Clarke UnitedHealthcare st
54 Marc De Maar UnitedHealthcare st
55 Daniel Lloyd IG – Sigma Sport st
56 Peter Hawkins IG – Sigma Sport st
57 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare st
58 Paul Voss Endura Racing st
59 Ricardo Garcia Euskaltel Euskadi st
60 Leopold Koenig Team NetApp st
61 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel Euskadi st
62 Josh Edmondson Great Britain st
63 Cesare Benedetti Team NetApp st
64 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel Euskadi st
65 Barry Markus Vacansoleil – DCM st
66 Wesley Kreder Vacansoleil – DCM st
67 Matthias Krizek Liquigas – Cannondale st
68 Michael Cuming Rapha Condor st
69 Bernard Sulzberger Raleigh – GAC st
70 Liam Holohan Raleigh – GAC st
71 Niels Wytinck An Post Sean Kelly st
72 Simon Richardson IG – Sigma Sport st
73 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas – Cannondale st
74 Russell Hampton Raleigh – GAC st
75 Jacob Rathe Garmin – Sharp st
76 Sam Bennett An Post Sean Kelly st
77 Jerome Coppel Saur Sojasun st
78 Evan Oliphant Raleigh – GAC at 5′ 39”
79 George Atkins Great Britain st
80 Owain Doull Great Britain st
81 Ivan Basso Liquigas – Cannondale st
82 Tom Last IG – Sigma Sport st
83 Marco Benfatto Liquigas – Cannondale st
84 Christopher Jennings Rapha Condor st
85 Graham Briggs Raleigh – GAC st
86 Aidis Kruopis Orica – GreenEDGE st
87 Lachlan Morton Garmin – Sharp st
88 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post Sean Kelly st
89 Niklas Gustavsson UK Youth Cycling at 7′ 7”
90 Kristian House Rapha Condor st
91 Michael Hepburn Orica – GreenEDGE at 7′ 53”
92 Jack Bobridge Orica – GreenEDGE st
93 Fabrice Jeandesboz Saur Sojasun st
94 Rico Rogers Node 4 – Giordana at 13′ 12”

Rouleur Combativity Award: Ronan McLaughlin, AN Post Sean Kelly

 

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

Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification, after Stage Four


1) Boy Van Poppel, NED, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling, 48pts
2) Mark Cavendish, GBR, Team Sky, 44pts
3) Russell Downing, GBR, Endura Racing, 44pts
4) Leigh Howard, AUS, Orica GreenEDGE, 42pts
5) Luke Rowe, GBR, Team Sky, 39pts

SKODA King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Four


1) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 62pts
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 Four


1) Peter Williams, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 27pts
2) Matt Cronshaw, GBR, Node4 – Giordana Racing, 13pts
3) Rony Martias, FRA, Saur Sojasun, 12pts
4) Kristian House, GBR, Rapha Condor, 10pts
5) Niklas Gustavsson, SWE, Team UK Youth, 8pts

Team General Classification, after Stage Four
1) Garmin – Sharp, USA, 51:24:12
2) Team Sky, GBR, + 0.02
3) Endura Racing, GBR, + 0.11
4) Team UK Youth, GBR, + 3.40
5) Saur Sojasun, FRA, + 3.49

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Related Links
— VeloUK.net Home Page for the Tour of Britain (Links to reports & features)
— The Tour of Britain Website

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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