British Cycling - Road Tour De Yorkshire

Tour De Yorkshire 2018 | May 03-06

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds, Race Winner, Stephane Rossetto, Cofidis-Solutions Credit

Sunday 6 May 2018

VAN AVERMAET WINS RECORD-BREAKING TOUR DE YORKSHIRE!

The 2018 Tour de Yorkshire was officially the biggest and best one yet with 2.6 million fans lining the route over the four days.

No less than 900,000 roadside spectators witnessed a gripping conclusion on Sunday with Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) wrapping up the overall victory after Stéphane Rossetto (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) had secured a sensational stage win.

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds, Early Breakaway, Stephane Rossetto & Max Steadman

Rossetto’s ride will go down in Yorkshire folklore after the Frenchman launched an audacious solo attack with 120km of the brutally tough ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ remaining, and the 31 year old evaded a vastly reduced peloton to seal the biggest stage win of his career and top the best climber classification sponsored by Virgin Trains in the process. Not surprisingly, Rossetto was also awarded the grey most active rider jersey sponsored by Dimension Data.

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds, Greg van Avermaet finishes 2nd to claim overall victory.

Van Avermaet sprinted home 37 seconds behind Rossetto in second place to tie up the race leader’s blue jersey sponsored by Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries, nine seconds ahead of Spaniard Eduard Prades Reverter (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias). Last year’s race winner Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data) rounded out the podium, five seconds further adrift.

The bonus points Van Avermaet accrued on the line also saw him win the best sprinter classification sponsored by Asda.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “I’m so proud of the last four days. It takes such a lot of work to make this race happen. All the highways teams and local authorities across Yorkshire worked so hard to make sure everything was ready and we’re hugely grateful to the emergency services as well.

“This race wouldn’t be what it is without our great partners, and of course, I like to say a massive thank you to all the male and female riders who came and produced such a gripping event. Greg Van Avermaet was a more than worthy winner and that gutsy ride from Stéphane Rossetto will live long in the memory.

“Finally, I have to mention the crowds as well. Once again, they were utterly unbelievable and it was like being back at the 2014 Tour de France. Every start and finish was absolutely rammed and there were so many high points along the route that I’ll need to take a few days to let it all sink in.”

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds Top Three Podium

2018 Tour de Yorkshire champion Greg Van Avermaet said: “I’m happy I could achieve the race win because it was certainly not easy today. The fans were amazing, and for the whole four days actually. I remember from the Tour de France, and when I last raced here in 2015, what it was like, and with this sunny weather even more fans came out. It was really special.

“The parcours was fantastic as well with a lot of variation over the four stages and this race definitely deserves its place on the calendar. I hope to come back and defend my title next year.”

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds Stage 4 winner, Stephane Rossetto

Stage four winner Stéphane Rossetto said: “This is my third professional win and certainly my most beautiful. I did it on a race that is growing in stature all the time, has more history now, and an amazing crowd. It’s been like riding the Tour de France over the last four days.”

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds, Chasing down, Astana Pro Cycling with Race Leader Magnus Cort Neilsen
Brief Stage Results

1 Stéphane Rossetto (FRA) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 4:53:22
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team +34 sec
3 Ian Bibby (GBR) JLT Condor
4 Edward Dunbar (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport
5 Eduard Prades Reverter (SPA) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
6 Anthony Perez (FRA) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
7 Jonathan Hivert (FRA) Direct Energie
8 Serge Pauwels (BEL) Team Dimension Data
9 Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Team Katusha-Alpecin
10 Michael Storer (AUS) Team Sunweb

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds, Second place for Eduard Prades
Final Standings

1 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team 16:38:00
2 Eduard Prades Reverter (SPA) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias +9 sec
3 Serge Pauwels (BEL) Team Dimension Data +14 sec
4 Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Katusha-Alpecin +19 sec
5 Michael Storer (AUS) Team Sunweb
6 Ian Bibby (GBR) JLT Condor +23 sec
7 Anthony Perez (FRA) Cofidis, Solutions Credits +25 sec
8 Edward Dunbar (IRL) Aqua Blue Sport +27 sec
9 Patrick Bevin (NZL) BMC Racing Team +37sec
10 Jonathan Hivert (FRA) Direct Energie +39

General Yorkshire Bank & Bike Libraries Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team
Points ASDA Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team
Best Climber Virgin Trains Stephane Rossetto Cofidis, Solutions Credit
Most Active Dimension Data Stephane Rossetto Cofidis, Solutions Credit
Best Team BMC Racing Team

TdY 2018 Stage 4 | Halifax to Leeds Best Team Podium, BMC Racing Team
TdY 2018 | Welcome to Yorkshire Stage 3 winner, Maximilian Walscheid (Photo-Welcome to Yorkshire)

Saturday 5 May 2018 – Words, Press Releases by Tour de Yorkshire – All Images Cyclepix unless otherwise credited.

WALSCHEID WINS IN SUN-DRENCHED SCARBOROUGH!

A wall of sound greeted Maximilian Walscheid as he sprinted to victory on a sizzling third stage of the Tour de Yorkshire.

The crescent-shaped slopes of Scarborough’s North Bay provided a perfect natural amphitheatre for the fourth year in succession and tens of thousands of fans bathed in temperatures hotter than Palma, Paris and Tenerife to watch another dramatic finish unfurl.

The total crowd of 650,000 had lined the 181km route from Richmond, taking the three-day total to a whopping 1.7 million!

It had looked as though French rider Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Énergie) was going to spoil the sprinters’ party once again, but the three-time Tour de France stage winner was caught with just 300m to go and Walscheid (Team Sunweb) fired past him to seal his first victory of the season.

TdY 2018 | Welcome to Yorkshire (Photo-Welcome to Yorkshire)

Friday’s stage winner Magnus Cort Nielsen crossed the line just inches behind to take second place, and bonus seconds on the line saw him tighten his grip on the blue leader’s jersey sponsored by Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries. Astana Pro Team Rider now leads Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) by 10 seconds with just the final ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ stage remaining.

Nielsen also tops the best sprinter classification sponsored by Asda, while Michael Cuming (Madison Genesis) will defend the red best climber’s jersey sponsored by Virgin Trains for a third successive stage.

Skipton-based rider Pete Williams will wear the grey most active rider jersey on Sunday after fans on the Tour de Yorkshire Twitter page @letouryorkshire bestowed him the honour following his classy climbing display on fearsome Côte de Sutton Bank.

Stage three winner Maximilian Walscheid said: “The scenery, the people and the weather were all incredible, and it seems like the race organisers have picked a really good week in the year for sun!

“The stage designers also did a really good job. The route was demanding but it still finished in a sprint royale and it was spectacular for the spectators. The reception we got all day was fantastic – people were standing in many rows. I’ve ridden famous races like Paris-Roubaix before but never seen crowds like that. This win was one of the proudest moments of my career.”

 

Race leader Magnus Cort Nielsen said: “The crowds were amazing and there was so many people. They seemed extremely excited and it wasn’t just kids jumping up and down but adults as well. That was a lot of fun to see and we all took time to soak it all in.”

Brief Results

1 Max Walscheid (GER) Team Sunweb 4:10:27
2 Magnus Cort (DEN) Astana Pro Team
3 Jon Aberasturi Izaga (SPA) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
4 Bryan Coquard (FRA) Vital Concept Club
5 Robert-Jon McCarthy (IRL) JLT Condor

General Classification after stage three

1 Magnus Cort (DEN) Astana Pro Team – 11:44:02
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team +10 sec
3 Eduard Prades Reverter (SPA) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias +12 sec
4 Serge Pauwels (BEL) Team Dimension Data +16
5 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling +21 sec

General Yorkshire Bank & Bike Libraries Magnus Cort Nielsen Astana Pro Team
Points ASDA Magnus Cort Nielsen Astana Pro Team
Best Climber Virgin Trains Michael Cumin Madison Genesis
Most Active Dimension Data Peter Williams ONE Pro Cycling
Best Team BMC Racing Team

TdY 2018 Stage 2 | Barnsley to Ilkley, Race Winner Magnus Cort Neilsen

Friday 04th May 2018

MAGNIFICENT MAGNUS

For the second day in succession, history was made in the Tour de Yorkshire.

Yesterday, Harry Tanfield became the first Yorkshireman to win a stage and today Magnus Cort Nielsen of Astana Pro Team powered his way to victory at the first ever summit finish of the Tour de Yorkshire and once again the Yorkshire crowds came out in their thousands to cheer on the riders.

600,000 spectators lined the route of a tough, yet stunning, stage today that saw the both the mens’ and womens’ teams ride from Barnsley to Ilkley and conclude with an iconic climb finishing on the famous Cow and Calf summit.

TdY 2018 Stage 2 | Barnsley to Ilkley – Final 300m, Cote de Cow & Calf, Serge Pauwels sets the pace!

It looked to be a battle of the Belgians late on in the race as stage, and General Classification favourites, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) gave their all to take the victory. However, it was the Danish sprinter, Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana Pro Team) who showed a swift turn of speed to take the win; and the overall General Classification lead.

Still raw from the shock of yesterday’s surprise result, the peloton seemed cagey early on and the pace was quick coming out of Barnsley with a break struggling to form. Six riders did get away from the pack just before the opening categorised climb in the form of Ben Swift (Great Britain National Team), Ian Stannard (Team Sky), Patrick Bevin (BMC), Hayden McCromick (One Pro Cycling), Laurens De Vreese (Astana) and Johannes Fröhlinger (Team Sunweb).

This group had talent, and Swift and Stannard worked very hard at the front but the peloton kept them on a tight leash, not allowing too much of a gap to build. This pace also managed to split the peloton itself and left a few riders off the pace at the back early on.

The Cote de Blacker Hill climb was won by De Vreese with Stannard and Bevin taking the minor honours. The sprint gave Yorkshire another victory as Ben Swift, riding in national colours rather than the team of UAE rode his way to maximum points ahead of Bevin and Irizar Laskurain.

Another break managed to form and this time, it was the team of Tom Baylis (One Pro Cycling), Garikoitz Bravo (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias), Tobyn Horton (Madison Genesis) and Stephane Rossetto (Cofidis).

This break stayed away into the second and final sprint of the day in Scholes where Baylis, who was wearing the Dimension Data Digital Jersey (in place of then GC leader Harry Tanfield) took maximum points with Horton close behind and Oiarbide in third. The jersey would be his on merit today as he impressed the masses once again with a great day of riding.

Rossetto did manage to drop the other riders and take a solo, 55-second lead but this was short lived as the riders started to ascend the Cote de Old Pool Bank. BMC made their move next to keep Olympic Champion Van Avermaet in position to strike late on but it was British rider Jacob Scott (One Pro Cycling) who made the first move in this highly strung game of chess and led the race around 2km on the final climb, the Cote de Cow and Calf.

Defending Champion Serge Pauwels tried to surge past his compatriot Van Avermaet but it was the speed of Cort Nielsen that ultimately won the stage after a somewhat agonising final climb. Van Avermaet took second, Eduard Reverter Prades in third and Pauwels in fourth and that is how the GC picture looks going into stage three tomorrow.

Cort Nielsen said: “The team rode for me all day, they supported me with everything and I’m so happy for the boys and the win and I have to thank the team for being there for me. I was looking at him [Van Avermaet] and at around 500m I started to believe in it and I knew I would be quick when I could see the finish line, so I was just hoping for no big attacks so I could just get myself inside.”

Does the Danish rider think he can take the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire title now?

“Yeah, for sure. We will try everything and I believe I can win here, it’s possible. But there is still a long way to go.”

Stage three takes place tomorrow starting in Richmond and finishing in Scarborough.

Brief Results

1 Magnus Cort (DEN) Astana Pro Team 3:25:34
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team
3 Eduard Prades (ESP) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
4 Serge Pauwels (BEL) Team Dimension Data
5 Jonathon Hivert (FRA) Direct Energie

General Classification after stage two

1 Magnus Cort (DEN) Astana Pro Team – 7:33:41
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team +4 sec
3 Eduard Prades Reverter (SPA) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias +6 sec
4 Serge Pauwels (BEL) Team Dimension Data +10
5 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling +15 sec

TdY 2018 Stage 2 | Barnsley to Ilkley – Michael Cuming

Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries General Classification Jersey: Magnus Cort Nielsen
Asda Points Jersey: Harry Tanfield
Virgin Trains King of the Mountains Jersey: Michael Cuming
Dimension Data Digital Jersey (Most Active Rider): Thomas Baylis

TdY 2018 Stage 2 | Barnsley to Ilkley, Thomas Bayliss
TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, First leaders jersey for Harry Tanfield, Canyon-Eisberg

Thursday 03rd May 2018

IT WAS A STAGE SET FOR A SPRINTER BUT IT WAS THE BREAK THAT STOLE THE SHOW.

There were many famous names banded around to take today’s stage, Cavendish, Swift, Blythe, Coquard, Cort Nielsen; but it was the grit and determination of Harry Tanfield (Canyon Eisberg) that led to victory on stage one of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire.

Tanfield made history with this win, becoming the first UK and, to the delight of the county, the first Yorkshire rider to win a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire and, in doing so, leads the general classification by three seconds going into day 2.

TdY 2018 | Welcome to Yorkshire, Harry Tanfield (Photo-Welcome to Yorkshire)

The return of Mark Cavendish was the story in Beverley. After a couple of injuries had left him unable to compete the Dimension Data sprinter was back and, as he stood atop of the sign-on stage earlier in the day, the Manx Missile exclaimed:

‘I saw that the race was starting on a Thursday and I didn’t expect there to be any crowds, but then I remembered, we’re in Yorkshire!’

This statement was met with rapturous applause and that applause and support continued throughout all 182km of stage one of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire as 450,000 people turned out to support the riders as they made their way from the East to the South of the county. This is the most that have ever turned out for an opening stage of the race.

TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, Cat & Mouse for the escapees…

Six riders set their stall out early and attacked to form a break. These riders were Ali Slater (JLT Condor), Michael Cuming (Madison Genesis), Thomas Baylis (One Pro Cycling), Emerson Oronte (Rally Cycling), Axel Journiaux (Direct Energie) and, eventual winner, Harry Tanfield (Canyon Eisberg).

As the break approached the first, and only climb of the day, the Cote de Baggaby Hill, it was Cuming who showed his strength to take the points, with Baylis and Journiaux not far behind. From here came the descent into Pocklington which was the location for the first of two sprints.

Tanfield showed his power for the first time of the day to take the sprint points ahead of Slater and Journiaux and keep the points within the break and this didn’t change during the second sprint of the day at Howden, as Slater and Journiaux took first and second, with Tanfield bursting through late to take third.

Tanfield had already shown so much grit and determination that is synonymous with Yorkshire folk and this made him an easy choice for the public as they voted him as the Most Aggressive Rider of the day (Dimension Data Digital Jersey).

TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, The Big Bunch Sprint!

As the riders approached Doncaster, the peloton started to reel in the breakaway and cut down the time difference. However, the gap stayed open and the break saw their chance – and they took it.

Ali Slater and Michael Cuming were in touching distance of the line but it was Great Ayton’s Harry Tanfield that chose a perfect line to come from fifth of five to burst through the middle of the pack, showing immense power.

Arms aloft, the delight was clear and Yorkshire has a new stage winner to add to the history books, only this time – he’s one of their own.

Tanfield said: “When we heard on the radio that we still had a 30 second lead with 5km to go, I thought something was wrong but as we approached the 3km sign and I couldn’t see them I said, let’s ride and I just kept shouting at the guys, we can do it, we can do it!”

On his ‘sprint finish’ he joked: “I wouldn’t really call it a sprint, it was more like a time trial to the line. I just went from the back and built and built and built. I was on the chevrons and it was pretty bumpy but I had time to get my hands up in the air so I can’t complain.”

The support didn’t go unnoticed either: “Cheers for the cheering, there were lots of people on the roads shouting my name and the support all the way around the course is crazy so it’s really nice. I just want to say thanks to everyone for the support and obviously for voting for me in the Most Aggressive Rider vote, as it was long hard day, there was a headwind all day and it was pretty tough.”

TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, Race Winner, Harry Tanfield
TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, Race Winner, Harry Tanfield
Brief Results

1 Harry Tanfield (GBR) Canyon-Eisberg – 4:08:12
2 Alistair Slater (GBR) JLT Condor
3 Michael Cumin (GBR) Madison-Genesis
4 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
5 Thomas Baylis (GBR) ONE Pro Cycling

General Classification after stage one

1 Harry Tanfield (GBR) Canyon-Eisberg – 4:08:12
2 Alistair Slater (GBR) JLT Condor
3 Michael Cumin (GBR) Madison-Genesis
4 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
5 Thomas Baylis (GBR) ONE Pro Cycling

Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries General Classification Jersey: Harry Tanfield
Asda Points Jersey: Harry Tanfield (To be worn by Ali Slater)
Virgin Trains King of the Mountains Jersey: Michael Cuming
Dimension Data Digital Jersey (Most Active Rider): Harry Tanfield (To be worn by Thomas Baylis)

TdY 2018 Stage 1 | Beverley to Doncaster, Most aggressive. Harry Tanfield
TdY 2018 | Welcome to Yorkshire (Photo-Welcome to Yorkshire)
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