Tour De Yorkshire

Tour De Yorkshire 2017

TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley, Winners Podium, Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data)

Tour De Yorkshire 2017 Race Round Up

Stage Three

A late “Serge” from Pauwels into Fox Valley in Sheffield to take his first Major Professional win and claim the overall victory in the third edition of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Team Dimension Data’s Pauwels rode the final few hundred meters with team-mate Omar Fraile after shaking hands before the final corner and into view of the finish line.

Around twenty riders made the selection on-to the finishing circuit that included four grippy climbs before a downhill run-in to the line as the remnants of the peloton split on-route to Sheffield.

Defending champion Thomas Voeckler made the cut but Race leader Caleb Ewan who had managed to stay on the front end of the 194Km race most of the day became isolated in the second group as his twelve second lead dwindled away and the gap grew to over forty-seconds.
The final time-bonus sprint approached quickly at Stocksbridge and Voeckler’s team-mate Jonathon Hivert broke free to claim a three second’s advantage, Pauwels two seconds and Voeckler one.

TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley, Voeckler eyes Pauwels on finish circuit!

As they continued up the first two climbs, Cote de Deepcar and the Cote de Wigtwizzle the leading group rode with a bit more conviction splitting further, dropping Voeckler at the same time. Team Dimension Data used their third man Jacques Janse Van Rensburg to maintain a brutal pace before peeling off over the top.

Pauwels made his move cresting the Wigtwizzle to decend aggressively, and with ten kilometres remaining, extended his lead to over thirty seconds and into the virtual leader’s jersey on the road.

As the kilometres clicked by, non of the remaining contenders took up the chase as Fraile sat-on whilst Hivert, Bookwalter, Geoghagen-Hart and Lammertink looked at each other.

The final climb of Cote de Midhopestones saw BMC pile on the pressure and drew Pauwels to with-in eight seconds. Bookwalter slipped back again as Hivert tried his luck. Seven chasers remaining, and the gap when out once more.

Team-mate Fraile sat tucked in third wheel on the road blocking any further moves. The gap closed once-more with two kilometres remaining. This time Katusha’s Tiago Machado dug deep and rode away from the chasing group.

Fraile closed the gap once more and catapulted himself across to Pauwels. No one had the legs to respond. One kilometre remaining and the two riders were together with two hundred meters advantage. A quick look behind as they entered the Fox Valley complex. It’s a one-two for Team Dimension Data.

Things didn’t go smoothly for everyone though, with the climber’s jersey changing hands among team-mates as Etienne Van Empel retired on route, Pieter Weening’s efforts earlier on in the day secured the jersey for Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij.

TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley, Cote de Shibden Wall, Pieter Weening (Roompot – Loterijned) and Dexter Gardias

An unfortunate crash on the run into Sheffield saw Nacer Bohanni rendered unconscious momentarily, bringing his race to an end. Reports suggest he will make a full recovery after been taken to the local hospital.

Caleb Ewan defied all the critics and completed the Queen’s Stage of the TdY, nicknamed the “Yorkshire Terrier” by Sir Gary Verity retaining the points jersey for his effort.

One hundred riders completed the three day race of four-hundred-and-ninety-one kilometres, with the fastest time being 11h 53.04m.
Moving forward for the fourth edition in 2018, Sir Gary Verity had hinted a proposal to increase the race to four days with two flatter stages and two hillier stages to attract bigger names to Yorkshire. He had said to the press after the race that they had been over-subscribed for start or finish towns this year, and with around 2.2 million roadside audience over the three days, the appetite for racing in Yorkshire spoke for itself. This year a global audience of 180 countries enjoyed TV coverage with Japan joining Live for the first time.
Yorkshire will host the 2019 World Road Race Championships with a full weeks racing programme on the agenda. Check back on the official websites for the latest news and updates.

Speaking to the press after the race, Serge said that he usually prepares for the Giro (D’Italia) at the Tour of Romandie but having been in Yorkshire last year he had spoken to DS Roger Hammond and insisted he returned back for a second crack at the race.

TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley – Flagged off for stage 3, Caleb Ewan in blue!
Press Release Fox Valley - Sheffield, Sunday April 30th 2017

Serge Pauwels took his first pro victory at the end of a gruelling stage. The Belgian opened up a gap on the last few climbs and crossed the finish line ahead of Dimension Data teammate Omar Fraile. Pauwels also won the third edition of the Tour de Yorkshire.

QUOTE FROM STAGE WINNER

“I can’t believe it. This is my first professional victory and I am a little surprised with myself because usually I prefer longer climbs. Today’s stage lent itself to a really explosive rider and there were no moments of respite. I want to highlight all the work of my team, especially that of Bernhard Eisel, and of course, the presence of Omar Fraile in the final helped me a lot. This stage is comparable to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with perhaps even more people on the roadside. The crowds were incredible. This winter my team wanted me to take part in the Tour de Romandie but I asked to do the Tour of Yorkshire because the atmosphere here is amazing”.

STAGE RESULT

1. Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data) 194,5 km en 4h55’47’’
2. Omar Fraile (Team Dimension Data) s.t
3. Jonathan Hivert (Direct Energie) at 6’’

TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley – Start Line Bradford
Stage One

Stage one ended with a pile-up within sight of the finish line on the sea-front in Scarborough. Dylan Groenewegen, Team Lotto NL-Jumbo got the better of Caleb Ewan on the one-hundred-and-seventy kilometre race from Bridlington across the North Yorkshire Moors before heading south from Whitby. Groenewegen pulled the points jersey on too claiming fifteen points for winning the race.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 – 28/04/2017 – Stage 1 Bridlington / Scarborough (174Km) – Le peloton – Photo Credit A.S.O. Press Release

Etienne Van Empel claimed the first two ascends before a third place over the top of the Cote de Robinhood’s Bay for the best climbers jersey.

Press Release Scarborough, Friday April 28th 2017

Despite the tough hills to climb on the final part of stage 1 of the Tour de Yorkshire, victory was decided on a bunched sprint in Scarborough. Like a year ago on the opening day of the race, Dylan Groenewegen only just claimed the win. The Dutchman powered to line beating Caleb Ewan by a few inches. Third place went to Chris Opie. Thanks to his success, he captures the overall lead and will be proudly wearing the leader’s blue jersey on tomorrow’s stage 2. This first chapter of the 2017 edition also saw several riders hit the deck after a crash occurred in the final 500m.

QUOTE FROM STAGE WINNER

«It was a hard stage. I was dropped on the climbs sometimes, but luckily the team was there to protect me all day long. I was lucky on the finish, because Caleb Ewan was very close. The Tour de Yorkshire seems to like me. Last year I also won the first stage, in front of Caleb Ewan, again. Hopefully, I can fight for another victory tomorrow”.

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 – 28/04/2017 – Stage 1 – Bridlington / Scarborough (174Km) – Photo Credit A.S.O. Press Release

STAGE RESULT

1. Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo) 174 km in 4h09’38’’
2. Caleb Ewan (Orica Scott) s.t
3. Chris Opie (Bike Channel Canyon) s.t

OVERALL INDIVIDUAL TIME CLASSIFICATION

1. Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo)
2. Caleb Ewan (Orica Scott) at 4’’
3. Chris Opie (Bike Channel Canyon) at 6’’

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 – 29/04/2017 – Tadcaster / Harrogate – Start Line. Photo Credit A.S.O. Press Release
TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate – Pateley Bridge Luke Rowe…
Stage Two

Stage two ended in a big bunch sprint as Nacer Bouhanni beat Caleb Ewan this time, but Ewan had finished second twice moving him into the leaders blue jersey with a two second lead over Bouhanni. Groenewegen dropped to third overall also two seconds behind.
With only one classified climb on stage two, the Cote de Lofthouse was won by JLT Condor’s James Gullen, Van Empels effort on stage one had banked enough points to retain the climber’s jersey.

TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate – Nacer Bouhanni wins bunch sprint

Tadcaster to Harrogate was the shortest of the three stages covering one-hundred-and-twenty-two-point-five kilometres in two hours, forty-six. The race set off across the newly re-built bridge that joins both parts of the town together. Over eighty riders rode into Harrogate to finish in the same spot as the 2014 Grand Depart.

Press Release Harrogate, Saturday April 29th 2017

Nacer Bouhanni thundered to a prestigious victory in Harrogate, raising his arms on the same finishing straight where Marcel Kittel prevailed in the 2014 Tour de France. The French rider edged Caleb Ewan and Jonathan Hivert in the sprint. Ewan, meanwhile, took over the blue leader’s jersey from Groenewegen.

QUOTE FROM STAGE WINNER

“The conclusion of today’s stage was hard and steep. Here in Yorkshire it seems like all the roads are hilly! Yesterday I watched the finish of the 2014 Tour de France stage here when Marcel Kittel won and that allowed me to better understand today’s sprint. I produced my effort with 400m to go and when Jonathan Hivert kicked I knew I had to react immediately. This is my fourth win of the season and it gives me confidence because the Tour de Yorkshire is my first race after a brief break. There were so many people on the road today it felt like the Tour de France”.

TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate – Podium Winner, Nacer Bouhanni

STAGE RESULT

1. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis Solutions Crédits) 122,5 km in 2h45’51’’
2. Caleb Ewan (Orica Scott) s.t
3. Jonathan Hivert (Direct Energie) s.t

TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate, GC Podium: Caleb Ewan, Points: Caleb Ewan

OVERALL INDIVIDUAL TIME CLASSIFICATION

1. Caleb Ewan (Orica Scott)
2. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis Solutions Crédits) at 2’’
3. Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL Jumbo) at 2’’

TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate, Best Climber Podium: Etienne Van Empel
TdY 2017 | Stage 2 – Tadcaster to Harrogate, Most Aggressive Rider Podium: Harry Tanfield
Tour de Yorkshire 2017 – 30/04/2017 – Bradford / Fox Valley – Sheffield – Photo Credit A.S.O. Press Release
TdY 2017 | Stage 3 – Bradford to Sheffield Fox Valley, Final Jersey Winner’s Podium
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