CYCLING Tonelli leads Tour of Britain to Bristol
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 September 2018 15:54
- Published on Tuesday, 04 September 2018 08:06
The Australian rider beat breakaway companion Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF) after the pair had been a part of the stage’s five-man escape group that went clear in the opening 15 kilometres following the start at Cranbrook.
Tonelli’s six-second time bonus on the line plus, his slender advantage over a strong chasing group containing the likes of Wout Poels (Team Sky), Primoz Roglic (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) and Quick-Step Floors duo Julian Alaphilippe and Bob Jungels just behind means he moves into the OVO Energy Green Jersey of race leader.
Meyer is level on time with Tonelli in the OVO Energy Green Jersey classification, Meyer played down his chances of claiming overall victory in London on Sunday.
Those other riders contained a fine mixture of top names, including Roglic, Alaphilippe, Jungels and Poels, who all now sit 12 seconds off the lead. Top Brit and recipient of the Adnams Best British Rider Award in front of huge crowds in Barnstaple was Hugh Carthy of Team EF Education First Drapac p/b Cannondale.
The Lancastrian is 10th overall, three seconds ahead of British trio Scott Davies, Scott Thwaites (Team Dimension Data) and Ethan Hayter (Great Britain cycling team), with Davies also holding the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey and winning the HIGH5 Combativity Award for Stage Two after also being a part of the race-winning breakaway.
Fellow escapee Matthew Teggart (Team WIGGINS) takes over the Eisberg Sprints Jersey while Meyer moves into the lead of the Wahoo Points Jersey.
Stage Three sees the OVO Energy Tour of Britain return to Bristol, with an out-and-back 128-kilometre leg that starts (at 1100) and finishes on Ladies Mile at Clifton Down.
The short, sharp stage features a number of climbs, including the iconic ascent of Cheddar Gorge, while the twin climbs of Providence Lane and Rownham Hill in the closing 10 kilometres are likely to again shape the overall battle for the OVO Energy Green Jersey.
official OVO Energy Tour of Britain website today's Bristol out-and-back Somerset stage route
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