{"id":8487,"date":"2021-09-06T14:01:02","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T14:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=8487"},"modified":"2021-09-12T17:51:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T17:51:13","slug":"aj-bell-tour-of-britain-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=8487","title":{"rendered":"AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Podium – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert (c) takes victory at the Tour of Britain with INEOS Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter (l) taking second place & Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe third.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Images courtesy of SWpix unless otherwise stated<\/p>\n

SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

WOUT VAN AERT WINS THE AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wout van Aert was crowned the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain champion at the death on Sunday after he sprinted to win the final stage in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert takes victory at the Tour of Britain after winning stage 8.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Team Jumbo \u2013 Visma rider\u2019s victory meant that he claimed the 10 bonus seconds available on the line and, with INEOS Greandiers\u2019 overnight race leader Ethan Hayter placing outside the top 10, van Aert was able to turn a four-second deficit on the young Briton into a six-second advantage. Reigning world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step) completed the final podium.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Van Aert\u2019s debut appearance in the AJ Bell Tour of Britain was history-making: his tally of four stage victories is the joint-most in the modern incarnation of the race. He also became only the sixth rider to have won stages in England, Scotland and Wales, but the first to do so in a single edition.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really fast finish,\u201d<\/em> said van Aert. \u201cIt was definitely important to have the right position because you couldn\u2019t make up too many places in the final kilometres. I needed all of my guys to close the gap to the breakaway today – I had to do the sprint on my own but after their impressive work it was a pleasure to finish it off.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGeorge<\/em> [Bennett] and the guys are used to pulling on a flat stage like this, but it was really impressive to see their commitment to close that breakaway down, because they were really strong in the end. You never win alone so it was definitely a big team performance.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely won a lot more than I expected to at this race. I hoped to be there on a few stages, as well as seeing from there what was possible on GC, but taking all these wins is beyond my expectations. We\u2019ve had a really nice week and I think my form is where I want it to be. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really nice to see and really cool for me to explore the enthusiasm of British crowds. There were so many people on the side of the road – I really missed that in the last couple of years because of COVID.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Six riders were part of the day\u2019s breakaway heading up the road soon after the start from Stonehaven as the race headed through packed crowds on the Category One \u0160KODA King of the Mountains climb of Cairn o\u2019Mount head by Stage Two winner Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling).<\/p>\n

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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Rally Cycling’s Robin Carpenter on the front of the break.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With several teams eyeing either the stage win or the bonus seconds on Aberdeen\u2019s beach front Esplanade however the break was never going to be allowed the freedom to succeed.\u00a0 Ultimately it was Carpenter and Irish champion Ben Healy (TRINITY Racing) that survived the longest, before being caught in the outskirts of Aberdeen setting up the expected sprint finish.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A last ditch effort by Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) came to nothing as a strong tailwind swept the peloton along the Esplanade.\u00a0 Alaphilippe led out the sprint for Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step) before Andr\u00e9 Greipel (Israel Start-Up Nation) hit the front, with van Aert sweeping past them both to take the stage and overall victory.<\/p>\n

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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/\/2021 – Cycling. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 – Stage 8 Stonehaven to Aberdeen –<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hayter came in eleventh to lose his AJ Bell leader\u2019s jersey, his worst finish of the week, but kept the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey.\u00a0 Second overall meant he was the highest place British rider ahead of Mark Donovan (Team DSM), who finished ninth overall, and James Shaw (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), in fourteenth.<\/p>\n

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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/\/2021 – Cycling. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 – Stage 8 Stonehaven to Aberdeen –<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speaking after the race Ethan Hayter said; \u201cThe race has exceeded expectations for me, and I think a lot of people as well, so I couldn\u2019t have asked for any better really. Well I could have, if Van Aert didn\u2019t win, but other than that!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were concerned that it would all kick off on Cairn o\u2019Mount, but in the end we just rode up it because there was a big headwind. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was funny – we rode up the climb all next to each other and I thought it was quite cool and fun at the same time. We were kind of keeping an eye on each other! It was quite controlled, so it was quite an easy day as things go.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fellow Brit Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) completed a remarkable week having held both the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints jerseys since Stage One in Bodmin, and was rewarded by his efforts by being presented with the Overall Combativity Award for the race in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The AJ Bell Tour of Britain will return to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in September 2022 for the opening stage of next year\u2019s race as a part of Scotland\u2019s continuing commitment to hosting world-class racing ahead of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds in the country.<\/p>\n

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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Podium – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert splashes the champagne after winning the tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
General Classification after Stage 8<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:42:22<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:42:28<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 31:42:49<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:43:03<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:43:22<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 31:43:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:43:38<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:44:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mark DONOVAN [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:44:26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Carlos RODRIGUEZ CANO [ESP]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a031:44:29<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Podium – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert (c) takes victory at the Tour of Britain with INEOS Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter (l) taking second place & Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe third.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n
SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
PASCAL EENKHORN MEETS XANDER GRAHAM AT FINAL STAGE OF AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Picture by Alex Whitehead\/SWpix.com – Cycling – 11\/09\/2021 – AJ Bell Tour of Britain – Stage 7 – Hawick to Edinburgh, Scotland – Pascal Eenkhoorn of Team Jumbo\u0096Visma hands a bottle to a young cyclist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Twelve-year-old Scottish cyclist Xander Graham has become the sensation of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain after his starring role during Stage Seven of the race on Saturday (11 September) when he rode alongside the breakaway and took a bIdon from Jumbo Visma\u2019s Pascal Eenkhoorn mid-race.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
The moment was caught live on television and shown around the world, with the video receiving more than a million views by Sunday lunchtime on the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Twitter account.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Xander Graham (12) from Edinburgh meets Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Mark Cavendish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Eenkhorn was part of a five-rider breakaway near the end of the stage, alongside eventual winner Yves Lampaert, handing his bidon to Xander while he rode alongside them on the pavement as they raced towards the finish in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Xander and his parents were guests of race sponsors Eisberg, the UK\u2019s leading alcohol free wine brand, at the Stonehaven start of the final stage of the race, meeting Pascal Eenkhoorn and the rest of the Jumbo Visma team, and joining them on the pre-race podium to be presented to the crowd.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Jumbo Visma’s Pascal Eenkhoorn meets Xander Graham (12) from Edinburgh prior to the start of the final stage of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cIt was amazing to be up close so I really enjoyed it<\/em>\u201d said Xander Graham. \u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of messages on social media and a lot of reposts on people\u2019s stories as well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Commenting on the experience, Xander\u2019s Dad, Martin, said; \u201cIt\u2019s been an incredible response from Pascal and with Xander riding alongside them yesterday. It\u2019s Xander\u2019s dream to be a professional cyclist but to be actually riding in the Tour in his hometown was just a really spectacular moment for us all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Speaking at the Stonehaven start, Jumbo Visma rider Pascal Eenkhoorn said; \u201cWe were in the final and he was kind of attacking us on the pavement.\u00a0 Then I was the one doing my pull and I was drinking from my bottle and we passed him.\u00a0 I looked at him and I was nodding my head like you want the bottle? He was like \u2018Yes\u2019 so I gave him it and he immediately took it. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cWe were riding fast but he was completely sprinting and he looks like a talented kid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 12\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 8 – Stonehaven to Aberdeen, Scotland – Jumbo Visma’s Gijs Leemreize, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Xander Graham (12) from Edinburgh, George Bennett & Wout van Aert prior to the start of the final stage of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/pre>\n
SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
YVES LAMPAERT TAKES EDINBURGH STAGE WIN IN AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 11\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 7 – Hawick to Edinburgh, Scotland – Yves Lampaert celebrates stage 7 victory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Belgian rider Yves Lampaert took Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step\u2019s first victory of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain in Edinburgh on Saturday at the end of a stage dominated by a six-man breakaway group.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh. Leading group into Duns with 74km remaining<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Lampaert outsprinted Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team) and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling\u2019s Matt Gibson in the world-famous Holyrood Park after the trio broke away on the outskirts of the Scottish capital.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh. Leading group into Duns with 74km remaining<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
INEOS Grenadiers rider Ethan Hayter finished safely within the peloton to retain his overall lead and move to within a day of becoming the first British winner of the national tour in five years.\u00a0 Hayter has also sealed the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey with an insurmountable lead going into the final stage, providing he finishes the race.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh. Ethan Hayter safe in the hands of INEOS Grenadiers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cIt was a good day all round because we kept the jersey and have one day left to go. Having a strong team is probably more important than being a strong rider at the end of the day like today \u2013 Richie<\/em> [Porte] and Owain<\/em> [Doull] have ridden on the front for the past two days, which is pretty impressive,\u201d <\/em>said Ethan Hayter speaking after the stage finish.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably going to kick off tomorrow, it always does on the last day of a stage race. I\u2019ll do my best to beat Wout if it does come to a sprint.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh. Owain Doull setting the pace around 7.30 behind with 74km to Edinburgh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Commenting after his win, Yves Lampaert said; \u201cIt was quite nervy. There were three of us in the lead, so it\u2019s always difficult to finish it off. But I took the wheel of Gibson – I heard on the radio that he was quite fast. I did quite a long sprint; I started at 250<\/em> [metres] to go and I held it to the line.<\/em><\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh… Holding just over 5 mins over the final KoM over Wanside Rig<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy. I\u2019ve worked to a make a lot of team victories but today I could finish it off for myself. That\u2019s a huge relief. Every victory has a special place in my heart, and it\u2019s not that I win every week, so I\u2019m really happy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Lampaert, Jorgenson and Gibson had been part of a six-rider group that broke away early on the stage from Hawick, along with Lampaert\u2019s Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step teammate Davide Ballerini, Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo Visma), and TRINITY Racing\u2019s Christopher Blevins.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh. Owain Doull closing in on the leaders at 5.04mins behind with 54km to Edinburgh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The sextet built a lead of nearly 10 minutes and were allowed their head coming into Edinburgh as INEOS Grenadiers controlled the gap to ensure the race didn\u2019t come back together and that Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) couldn\u2019t collect any time bonuses to threaten Hayter\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Blevins was the first to be distanced with 20 kilometres to go on an unclassified climb out of Ford before Lampaert attacked with 8.5 kilometres to go splitting the group.\u00a0 Jorgenson reacted first to get onto the former Belgian champion\u2019s wheel with Gibson putting in a concerted effort to then get across to the pair reaching them with five kilometres remaining.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh… World Champ Julian Alaphilippe with Wout van Aert shadowing behind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The trio then worked well to distance Eenkhoorn and Ballerini but coming into Holyrood Park it was the Ribble Weldtite rider on the front with his two World Tour rivals using their experience to force Gibson to lead out the sprint to the line.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) retains both the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints jerseys and will win both providing he finishes Sunday\u2019s stage.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Hawick to Edinburgh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The AJ Bell Tour of Britain concludes with Stage Eight from Stonehaven to Aberdeen over 173 kilometres (107.6 miles) including the famous \u0160KODA King of the Mountains climb of Cairn o\u2019Mount early in the stage plus intermediate Eisberg Sprints, with their time bonuses, at Finzean, Aboyne, and Ballater.<\/p>\n
General Classification after Stage 7<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:34:32<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:34:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:34:53<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:35:07<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:35:26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:35:40<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:35:42<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:36:09<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mark DONOVAN [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:36:30<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Carlos RODRIGUEZ CANO [ESP]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a027:36:33<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
 <\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 11\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 7 – Hawick to Edinburgh, Scotland – Riders roll of Hawick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
WOUT VAN AERT STRIKES BACK AT GATESHEAD FINISH OF AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 10\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 6 – Carlisle to Gateshead, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert (r) outsprints Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe (l) & INEOS Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter (c) for the win at Tour 6 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 10\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 6 – Carlisle to Gateshead, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout van Aert (r) outsprints Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe (l) & INEOS Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter (c) for the win at Tour 6 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
A day after losing the AJ Bell Tour of Britain race lead, Belgian star Wout van Aert struck back by winning stage six in the shadow of the Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Sprint 1 into Motherby for the leading group of ten. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Belgian national champion sprinted home ahead of Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step) as a 10-rider group contested the finish after a thrilling finale on the roads into Gateshead that saw multiple riders trying to go clear for the stage victory.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Richie Porte leading the chasing Peloton across Sprint 1 in Motherby. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hayter retains his race lead, although now trimmed to just four seconds over van Aert [Team Jumbo Visma] thanks to the time bonus at the finish line, with Alaphilippe slipping back slightly to plus 21 seconds.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Ethan Hayter in the AJ Bell Tour of Britan’s Leaders Blue Jersey. Motherby, Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to keep the jersey,\u201d <\/em>said Ethan Hayter. \u201cThe gap is now four seconds so if he <\/em>[van Aert] wins the race on time bonuses there\u2019s not much we can do about it. I\u2019m happy to be leading the Tour of Britain still, it\u2019s amazing. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cIt all kicked off with about 15 kilometres to go on that climb and actually I wasn\u2019t playing it cool. I was on the limit, but Carlos <\/em>[Rodriguez] kind of saved me because otherwise I would\u2019ve been open to a lot more attacks. He was closing stuff and setting a good tempo, and, in the end, it put everyone off attacking, especially in the last couple of kilometres. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cTo keep the jersey and be second on the stage is a very good result for me and I\u2019m looking forward to the next two days.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Leading group over Hartside KoM1… Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The group of ten had formed as an earlier breakaway, containing Mark Cavendish and Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step team-mate Tim Declercq, was caught and James Shaw (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) attacked, with first Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar) and then eight others following, including all of the overall contenders.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Jacob Scott securing KoM Points over Hartside. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) put in a concerted effort on one of the many small climbs littering the final ten kilometres, building a 15 second advantage which was steadily eroded before Shaw and Mikkel Honor\u00e9 (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step) each made their own efforts to go clear.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Ineos still setting the pace over Hartside KoM with Ethan Haytor… Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With a second group of just over 20 riders closing on them rapidly, Jorgensen kept the pace high, aided by INEOS\u2019 Carlos Rodriguez before Honor\u00e9 opened up the sprint to lead out Alaphilippe.\u00a0 On the gradual drag up to the line however the fast finishers of van Aert and Hayter could come around the World champion under the watchful guise of the Angel of the North.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Sticky Bottle… Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Speaking after the race, Wout van Aert said; \u201cIt was a nice course with a nice opportunity in the end – a steep kicker with 14 kilometres to go. I thought it would be nice to make the race a bit harder and maybe even surprise some other guys, but we ended up with all the main favourites in the front group. From then on it was quite clear for me that it would be a sprint because Ethan<\/em> [Hayter] and the also the guy from Movistar<\/em> [Matteo Jorgenson] had a team-mate in the group who would keep it together.<\/em><\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Cav still in the days break through Catton… Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cI\u2019m focusing on this race and the opportunities we will have here, so I think for sure it has been good preparation for the Worlds. But for now I\u2019m more focused on the racing day by day. It will all come down to the bonus seconds. Maybe there will be some other opportunities along the way, so we need to be focused and hopefully we can try something again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Ineos’s Owain Doull still on the front through Catton with Ethan Haytor & Wout van Aert close-by. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hayter retains the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey thanks to his string of top five results this week while Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) keeps both of the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints jerseys for a sixth consecutive day, and now only needs to finish the AJ Bell Tour of Britain to retain his \u0160KODA jersey.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Wout van Aert tucked in the Peloton. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The event moves to Scotland for the final two stages of the 2021 race.\u00a0 Saturday (11 September) sees a 194.8-kilometre\u00a0 (121.1-mile) Stage Seven from Hawick to Edinburgh with a picturesque route through the Scottish Borders before the AJ Bell Tour of Britain concludes with Stage Eight from Stonehaven to Aberdeen over 173 kilometres (107.6 miles) including the famous climb of Cairn o\u2019Mount.<\/p>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Carlise to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 10\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 6 – Carlisle to Gateshead, England – Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
General Classification after Stage 6<\/pre>\n
<\/div>\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:53:32<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:53:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:53:53<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:54:07<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:54:26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:54:40<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:54:42<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:55:09<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mark DONOVAN [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:55:30<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Carlos RODRIGUEZ CANO [ESP]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a022:55:33<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Race Start… Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo; Chris Maher. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 | Jacob Scott in the Green Skoda KoM Jersey through Catton. Carlisle to Gateshead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nPRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/pre>\n
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
ETHAN HAYTER WINS AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN STAGE FIVE IN WARRINGTON TO TAKE RACE LEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – Ethan Hayter of INEOS Grenadiers (Wearing the Sportsbreaks.com Points Jersey) wins stage five of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain to become leader of the General classification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
INEOS Grenadiers\u2019 British rider Ethan Hayter sprinted to win stage five of the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain outside Warrington\u2019s historic Golden Gates to retake the overall race lead on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – Ethan Hayter of INEOS Grenadiers (Wearing the Sportsbreaks.com Points Jersey) wins stage five of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain to become leader of the General classification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hayter sprinted home ahead of European Champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Team Qhubeka NextHash) and Dan McLay (Team Ark\u00e9a Samsic) despite losing lead out man Owain Doull to a final corner crash on greasy roads following an earlier heavy rain shower.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – The peloton rides through the rain during stage five of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Victory in Warrington gives Hayter an eight-second advantage over Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo Visma) with three stages remaining, and almost 20 seconds back to World champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step).<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cThe hard work was done before the last kilometre to be honest,\u201d<\/em> said Ethan Hayter speaking afterwards. \u201cThe team were amazing and from about 20 kilometres to go we were there or thereabouts and out of trouble. The last 10 kilometres got twisty with a tailwind. We were in the perfect place really. In the last corner, with 700 metres to go, a couple guys came up on the inside and I knew I just had to get round it safely really. I didn\u2019t want to be right at the front, either, because it was still quite a long way to go. I saw <\/em>[Owain] Doull slowly drifting and I was like \u2018this isn\u2019t good\u2019 and then he crashed. <\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cHis bike started drifting as well and you are meant to look where you are going – when you look at something you end up riding into it. I just squeezed between the bike and the barrier and you get a rush of adrenaline. Then I just screamed on the radio for <\/em>[Michal] Kwiato to go flat out. I didn\u2019t actually get a great run at the finish, I couldn\u2019t quite believe the situation but when I did, I put it in my biggest gear, went as hard as I could and it was enough.<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up this morning and it was actually the best I had felt all race so it clearly worked out in the end. I had a cold last week so I came into it not feeling amazing and obviously everyone knows Wout van Aert won on the Champs-Elysees so he is one of the fastest guys. Then there\u2019s Cav, Nizzolo and all these people. I took six bonus seconds the other day by winning the sprint there and obviously it was a completely different stage, so I knew there was a chance.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cI think the time bonuses can still come into play and there\u2019s a lot of hard racing still to go. It might not come down to time bonuses in the end; there could be big gaps tomorrow and a couple of the days after that, so it\u2019s going to be interesting. We will just do what we can.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Stage Five rolled out from the world-leading biotechnology campus of Alderley Park in Cheshire with a five-rider break soon forming containing Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) as he once again dominated the points scoring in the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints competitions which he continues to lead.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – Dan Bingham of Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling, Nickolas Zukowsky of Rally Cycling and Christopher Blevins of TRINITY Racing break away during the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The final three members of the break \u2013 Dan Bigham (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), Christopher Blevins (TRINITY Racing), and Nickolas Zukowsky (Rally Cycling) \u2013 lasted well into Warrington and were only with only 1.8 kilometres of racing remaining.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – Dan Bingham of Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling breaks away during the AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
INEOS Grenadiers then took control and despite Doull sliding out on the final turn they managed to keep control through Kwiatowski to set up Hayter for his first AJ Bell Tour of Britain stage win and to extend his impressive run that has seen him finish in the top 10 on eight of his previous road stages in the Tour.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
The sixth stage of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain crosses the Pennines from Carlisle to Gateshead over 198 kilometres (123.1 miles), with the finish alongside Sir Antony Gormley\u2019s world-famous Angel of the North.\u00a0 With three first category \u0160KODA King of the Mountains climbs \u2013 at Hartside, Killhope Cross and Burtree Fell \u2013 during the route through Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland it could be another day where the overall lead changes hands.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 09\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 5 – Alderley Park to Warrington, England – Ethan Hayter of INEOS Grenadiers (Wearing the Overall Race Leader\u2019s Jersey) on the podium after winning stage five of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain to become leader of the General classification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
General Classification after Stage 5<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:17:42<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:17:50<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:18:01<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:18:11<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:18:30<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:18:34<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:18:46<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:19:03<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mark DONOVAN [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:19:24<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Xandro MEURISSE [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a018:19:28<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/pre>\n
WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
WOUT VAN AERT PIPS JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE TO WIN ATOP THE GREAT ORME<\/strong><\/p>\n
Wout van Aert moved back into the AJ Bell Tour of Britain race lead after out-sprinting reigning world champion Julian Alaphilippe atop the Great Orme, Llandudno, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 08\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 4 – Aberaeron to Great Orme, Llandudno, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert sprints to victory on stage 4 as he holds off Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Juliane Alaphilippe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The duo finished on the same time with Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) one second further back, while overnight leader Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) slipped back to second place overall \u2013 just two seconds in arrears on van Aert \u2013 after a great fightback in the final kilometre from the Brit.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 08\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 4 – Aberaeron to Great Orme, Llandudno, England – Podium – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert wins stage 4 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cIt was a super hard finish especially the first part of the climb was really steep, probably a bit too steep for a guy like me.\u00a0 I knew if I could hang on there I would have my chance,\u201d<\/em> said van Aert afterwards.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s nice for the head to take a victory, not only because you beat a guy like Julian in a tight finish like that<\/em> , but also you\u2019re here at bike races to win <\/em>, and at least I am.\u00a0 So it\u2019s just really nice and I think it\u2019s kind of a special finish here so that just makes me proud.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Van Aert now enjoys a two second lead on Hayter with Alaphilippe and his Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step team-mate Mikkel Honor\u00e9 at 11 and 21 seconds respectively, before a dangerous trio of riders in Woods, Rohan Dennis (INEOS Grenadiers) and Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) all within one minute.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cOur plan today was clear, we just wanted to set me up to go for the stage win and everyone was committed to that. Obviously I\u2019m feeling good. Taking two stage wins here, like this, the Tour of Britain is already a big success but with the team we have now and how my legs feel it is still a possibility to take the overall,\u201d<\/em> continued van Aert.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cWith only the stage wins there is still 40 bonus seconds coming so that\u2019s way more than the gap I have now so I need to be ready at every moment of the race and I probably need to do a few sprints because Hayter and I guess Alaphilippe will be my main opponents in GC and are both fast guys so we will see.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 08\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 4 – Aberaeron to Great Orme, Llandudno, England – Israel Startup-Nation’s Michael Woods leads up Great Orme with Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert & Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe following.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Ethan Hayter retains the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey thanks to finishing each stage so far in the top five while Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) extended his lead in both the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints classifications having once again infiltrated a breakaway.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 08\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 4 – Aberaeron to Great Orme, Llandudno, England – The break led by Global 6’s Nicolas Sessler.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The break, containing Scott and five others, was kept on a tight leash by the likes of Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step and Jumbo Visma as the race made its way north alongside the Ceredigion coast as the AJ Bell Tour of Britain basked in a third straight day of sunshine and high temperatures.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Into the Snowdonia National Park and several other riders, including Movistar\u2019s Marc Soler, bridged across but with the likes of van Aert and Alaphilippe determined to do battle on the Great Orme their days were numbered.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 08\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 4 – Aberaeron to Great Orme, Llandudno, England – The peloton passes through the mountains of Wales.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar Team) initiated the fireworks on the ascent of the Marine Drive toll road around the Great Orme\u2019s perimeter but was caught by the Jumbo Visma led front group at two kilometres to go.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
As the punishing 23% gradient alongside the Great Orme\u2019s tramway took its toll it was Woods and Alaphilippe that went clear but first van Aert and then Hayter dragged themselves back into content as the slopes eased.\u00a0 Honor\u00e9 then started the final sprint with van Aert jumping onto his wheel\u00a0 before edging out Alaphilippe as the two lunged for the line at the summit complex.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Stage Five sees the peloton heading to Cheshire for a 152.2-kilometre (94.6-mile) stages that begins from the world-leading biotech campus of Alderley Park and finishes outside the famous Golden Gates in Warrington town centre.\u00a0 In a stage of two halves the race visits the Cheshire Peak District with a succession of climbs between Congleton and Adlington before a flat run in to Warrington, with bonus seconds at Eisberg Sprints in Wilmslow and Chelford during the closing stages likely to be fiercely contested.<\/p>\n
General Classification after Stage 4<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:44:49<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:44:51<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:45:00<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:45:10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:45:29<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:45:33<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:45:45<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:46:02<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mark DONOVAN [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:46:23<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Xandro MEURISSE [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a014:46:27<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/pre>\n
INEOS GRENADIERS WIN THE AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN TEAM TIME TRIAL IN CARMARTHENSHIRE<\/strong><\/p>\n
INEOS Grenadiers produced an unstoppable ride to win the AJ Bell Tour of Britain\u2019s Carmarthenshire team time trial stage on Tuesday, a result that moves Londoner Ethan Hayter into the race lead after three days.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 07\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 3 – Carmarthenshire Team Time Trial – Llandeilo to National Botanic Garden of Wales, Wales – Podium – INEOS Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter takes the AJ Bell leader’s jersey after the team time trial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The British squad posted a time of 20\u201922\u201d for the 18.2-kilometre course from Llandeilo to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, finishing 17.5 seconds faster than runners up Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 07\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 3 – Carmarthenshire Team Time Trial – Llandeilo to National Botanic Garden of Wales, Wales – Rally Cycling out on the team time trial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hayter takes a six-second lead over team-mate Rohan Dennis with stage one winner Wout van Aert a further 10 seconds in arrears, while overnight leader Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) drops to 12th<\/sup> overall, now one minute six seconds down.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 07\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 3 – Carmarthenshire Team Time Trial – Llandeilo to National Botanic Garden of Wales, Wales – Arkea Samsic out on the road during the team time trial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d<\/em> said Hayter after the stage. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve ended up in a few leader\u2019s jerseys in the last few races now and it makes the racing great. You know to win the team time-trial is a really nice way to do it.<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cRohan<\/em> [Dennis] and Kwiato<\/em> [Michal Kwiatkowski] were the most experienced, and obviously guys like Richie <\/em>[Porte] have done time trials hundreds of times so they took us out and started us as we meant to go on. It was quite a tough start, then everyone just did short turns and did what they could to hold the speed.\u00a0 Then we hit the last climb pretty hard and held it to the finish.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Behind INEOS Grenadiers and Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step were a further three UCI World Tour teams in Team Jumbo Visma, Israel Start-Up Nation, and Team DSM, plus Alpecin Fenix as the only other teams within a minute of the leaders.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 07\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 3 – Carmarthenshire Team Time Trial – Llandeilo to National Botanic Garden of Wales, Wales – Team Jumbo Visma come off the ramp for the team time trial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With Stage Three being a team time trial there was no change in the other classifications with Hayter also holding the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey while Canyon dhb SunGod rider Jacob Scott holds both the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints jerseys.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
The race continues in Wales on Wednesday 8 September with Stage Four from Aberaeron on the Ceredigion coast to the Great Orme above Llandudno.\u00a0 The 210-kilometre (130.6-mile) stage ends with a spectacular ascent of the Great Orme\u2019s Marine Drive toll road before tackling the 1.9km, 9.8% average climb that runs parallel to the famous tramway up to the finish.<\/p>\n
General Classification after Stage 3<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:21<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rohan DENNIS [AUS]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:27<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:37<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:44<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:44<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Pascal EENKHOORN [NED]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:40:59<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:41:10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel MARTIN [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:41:10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:41:24<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Xandro MEURISSE [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:41:24<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 07\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 3 – Carmarthenshire Team Time Trial – Llandeilo to National Botanic Garden of Wales, Wales – INEOS Grenadiers out on the road during the team time trial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/pre>\n
ROBIN CARPENTER ON TOP OF THE WORLD IN DEVON<\/strong><\/p>\n
Monday’s AJ Bell Tour of Britain stage in Devon was anything but a rainy day for Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) as the 29-year old Philadelphian rode into the race lead with an impressive solo victory in Exeter city centre as the race bathed in the south west sunshine.<\/p>\n
Carpenter dropped breakaway companion Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) with 25 kilometres remaining to take the victory by 33 seconds over British duo Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) and Alex Peters (Swift Carbon Pro Cycling).\u00a0 Stage One winner Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo \u2013 Visma) came home safely within the same group and now sits 22 seconds behind Carpenter, who is the first American rider to both lead the AJ Bell Tour of Britain and to win a stage of the race.<\/p>\n
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Picture by Simon Wilkinson\/SWpix.com – 06\/09\/\/2021 – Cycling. AJ Bell Tour of Britain 2021 – Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter
Stage 2 breakaway winner Rally Cycling, Robin Carpenter celebrates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cWe had 40k to go, we had crested both of the last KoMs, we still had five minutes and there was tonnes of downhill,\u201d<\/em> said Carpenter.\u00a0 \u201cIt seemed like a tailwind too so at that point there\u2019s no chance to be caught. I was falling apart at the end but I made sure to be falling apart by myself.<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end leading the overall is great and it\u2019s a big bonus but we\u2019ll see about making it through the team time trial tomorrow with my team-mates.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cWe were going to hit it hard anyway, We\u2019ve got a couple of guys who are well suited to maybe go for the overall so we\u2019ll do our best and we\u2019ll see what happens but it\u2019s going to be a challenge for sure.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Rally Cycling’s Robin Carpenter wins stage 2 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Carpenter was part of a five-rider move with Scott, plus Nicolas Sessler (Global 6 Cycling), Will Bjergfelt (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling) and Leon Mazzone (Saint Piran).\u00a0 The latter pair were distanced on the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains climb of Rundlestone above Tavistock, with Sessler the next to go before Carpenter shed Scott on one of the numerous small climbs littering the stage.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Jumbo Visma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With an advantage of more than four minutes as he powered on alone victory on Queen Street in Exeter looked assured but Jumbo \u2013 Visma took control and gradually brought Carpenter\u2019s advantage down to under a minute.\u00a0 A strong lead out in the final kilometre from INEOS Grenadiers\u2019 Michal Kwiatkowski for team-mate Hayter brought the 55-rider main group close but not enough to prevent Carpenter taking the overall lead.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Jumbo Visma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Hayter did move into the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey while Jacob Scott extended his lead in both the \u0160KODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints classifications.<\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Podium – Team Rally Cycling’s Robin Carpenter takes victory on stage 2 of the Tour of Britain and takes the AJBell leader’s jersey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The race moves to Wales for Stage Three (Tuesday 7 September) as the 18 teams face an 18.2 kilometre time trial between Llandeilo and the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire.\u00a0 Van Aert has already spoken of the importance of the stage against the clock for his Jumbo Visma team who won the modern Tour of Britain\u2019s only previous team time trial stage in 2018.<\/p>\n
General Classification after Stage Two, Sherford to Exeter<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Robin CARPENTER [USA]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Rally Cycling\u00a0 \u00a009:19:33<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:19:55<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:19:59<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gonzalo SERRANO RODRIGUEZ [ESP]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Movistar Team\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:01<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Alex PETERS [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling\u00a0 \u00a009:20:01<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rory TOWNSEND [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Canyon Dhb SunGod\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Giacomo NIZZOLO [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Qhubeka Nexthash\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mikkel HONORE [DEN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a009:20:05<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Podium – Rally Cycling’s Robin Carpenter wins at Exeter after stage 2 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Stage 1 Penzance to Bodmin<\/pre>\n
 <\/p>\n
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Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert wins stage 1 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2021<\/pre>\n
WOUT VAN AERT WINS OPENING STAGE OF AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN IN BODMIN<\/p>\n
Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo \u2013 Visma) sprinted to victory in the opening stage of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain heading home Nils Eekhoff (Team DSM) and Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team).<\/p>\n
Van Aert followed a Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck \u2013 Quick-Step) attack with 500 metres go before jumping off his wheel with less than 300 metres remaining to open up his sprint which couldn\u2019t be matched on the St Nicholas Street climb. Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) had buried himself in the services of teammate Alaphilippe before pulling off with two kilometres to go, leaving INEOS Grenadiers to lead the race out onto the final sting in the tail in Bodmin but it was ultimately Alaphilippe and van Aert dictating matters.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – The peloton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With the stage victory \u2013 on his AJ Bell Tour of Britain debut \u2013 van Aert moves into the race lead with a four-second advantage over Eekhoff with Serrano a further two seconds in arrears. Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) is the top Brit in fourth overall, the same spot as his Stage One finishing position.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the stage, Wout van Aert said; \u201cBeing here it was almost overwhelming seeing the amount if crowds at the side of the roads, we have been missing this in the last two years and it\u2019s nice to see people outside again and especially in a crowd together, it\u2019s nice to see people are so crazy about cycling, it makes it more beautiful when we win.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a tough stage. It was good for me to adapt to these kind of roads and to get used to them. The stage was controlled and yeah racing, high speeds and obviously on a first day of a race everybody is still fresh so it was a big battle to be at the front for the sprint. My teammates helped me secure a good position and I think I did the right timing in the sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – Israel Startup-Nation’s Alex Dowsett on the front of the peloton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Looking ahead to the remaining seven days van Aert identified the AJ Bell Tour of Britain\u2019s two Welsh stages on Tuesday and Wednesday as key to his ambitions for the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team time-trial is obviously a really important event here for the reputation the team has in time trials. It will be important for the GC as well and I think on stage four we have the queen stage with a super hard finish so I\u2019m definitely focussing on that one, and then afterwards we\u2019ll see where my position is in the GC before the last four stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a really important race and a nice race to do but on the other hand I\u2019m here to try and race into the best legs possible going into the Worlds. We\u2019ll see after stage four what\u2019s good and what\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert wins stage 1 & takes the Sportsbreak Points jersey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
While van Aert also takes the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey, it was Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) who started the defence of his 2019 \u0160KODA King of the Mountains by infiltrating the day\u2019s breakaway to come home with both the climbers\u2019 jersey and the red Eisberg Sprints jersey.<\/p>\n
Scott, along with fellow Brits Max Walker (TRINITY Racing) and Oliver Stockwell (Great Britain national team), had kept the Cornish crowds entertained alongside South Africa\u2019s Nic Dlamini (Team Qhubeka NextHash) and US National champion Joey Rosskopf (Rally Cycling) \u2013 the latter celebrating his birthday \u2013 by sweeping up all of the primes on route until eventually being swept up by the peloton on the way to Bodmin.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – Podium – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert wins stage 1 and takes the AJ Bell blue race jersey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As well as the victory van Aert was also able to enjoy Cornwall as the AJ Bell Tour of Britain held its first ever stage in the county, and the south west scenery has provided a hit with the Jumbo Visma rider.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really beautiful. Unfortunately today was quite grey , but yesterday the sun was out and we did a really nice ride close to our hotel and actually I was surprised about the nature and yeah it\u2019s a holiday destination for me. I didn’t know much about the UK so hopefully I\u2019ll start to learn more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The race in the south west on Stage Two (Monday 6 September) with a 183.9-kilometre (114.4-mile) stage from Sherford to Exeter, taking in Devon\u2019s South Hams and the Dartmoor National Park.<\/p>\n
The AJ Bell Tour of Britain is sponsored by AJ Bell, one of the UK\u2019s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts. It has a rich history of supporting elite level sport including badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and triathlon.<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 05\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 1 – Penzance to Bodmin, England – Jumbo Visma’s Wout Van Aert wins stage 1 of the Toir of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
General Classification after Stage One, Penzance to Bodmin<\/pre>\n
\n
\n
1\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wout VAN AERT [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Jumbo-Visma\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nils EEKHOFF [NED]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team DSM\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:30<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gonzalo SERRANO RODRIGUEZ [ESP]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Movistar Team\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:32<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
4\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ethan HAYTER [GBR]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>INEOS Grenadiers\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
5\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rory TOWNSEND [IRL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Canyon Dhb SunGod\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
6\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael WOODS [CAN]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Israel Start-Up Nation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Giacomo NIZZOLO [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Team Qhubeka Nexthash\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
8\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Julian ALAPHILIPPE [FRA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Deceuninck – Quick-Step\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
9\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Xandro MEURISSE [BEL]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04:33:36<\/div>\n
\n
10\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kristian SBARAGLI [ITA]\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Alpecin-Fenix\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a004:33:36<\/div>\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Picture by SWpix.com – 06\/09\/2021 – Cycling – AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 2 – Sherford to Exeter, England – Rally Cycling’s Robin Carpenter wins stage 2 of the Tour of Britain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PRESS RELEASE Images courtesy of SWpix unless otherwise stated SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2021 WOUT VAN AERT WINS THE AJ BELL TOUR OF BRITAIN   Wout van Aert was crowned the 2021 AJ Bell Tour of Britain champion at the death on Sunday after he sprinted to win the final stage in Aberdeen. The Team Jumbo…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,567],"tags":[1312,330,999,1121,1234,904,1315,1314,568,1313,1316],"class_list":["post-8487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-british-cycling-road","category-tour-of-britain","tag-aj-bell-tour-of-britain","tag-alex-peters","tag-ethan-hayter","tag-jacob-scott","tag-julian-alaphilippe","tag-matt-gibson","tag-michael-woods","tag-robin-carpenter","tag-tour-of-britain-2","tag-wout-van-aert","tag-xander-graham"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8487"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8601,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487\/revisions\/8601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}