TOUR OF BRITAIN STAGE ONE: PEDERSEN SURPRISES BIG NAMES
- Tuesday, 29 August 2006
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Stage one: Glasgow-Castle Douglas
The first stage of the Tour of Britain has all but decided the final podium of the six-stage race after three riders finished 2-36 minutes clear of the main peloton.
Martin Pedersen (CSC) beat Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com) and Matthew Goss (South Australia.com) in a close sprint after staying clear for most of the windswept 101 miles stage from Glasgow to Castle Douglas.
Pedersen is the first race leader thanks to time bonuses and leads Pasamontes by two seconds.
“I was pleased to get in the break and all three of us worked hard to build the gap. When it got to 10-40 we knew we could take the stage and I was determined to win the sprint.”
“This is a great win for me and I’m extremely honoured to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour of Britain. We’re determined to defend it for the rest of the race.”
All the big names and big teams in the race refused to chase the three breakaways when they attacked after 15 miles and they opened a winning gap that will allow them to fight for overall victory in the remaining stages.
The main bunch finished 2-36 behind the three with former amateur world champion Francesco Chicchi (Quick Step) winning the bunch sprint for fourth. Russell Downing (DFL) finished sixth, Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile) seventh, Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) tenth and Roger Hammond (Great Britain) was 11th.
“It was a bizarre race until Barloworld started to chase in the last 20 miles but the race is virtually over unless the three riders let another break go clear,” Roger Hammond explained.
“It wasn’t up to us to chase because we’ve got three 18 year-old riders in the Great Britain team. Unfortunately with the Sheffield stage not as hard as last year it’s going to be difficult to get a change in the standings. Most teams will now concentrate on stage wins and the three teams will chase.”
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was only 60th in bunch sprint, while Andreas Kloden climbed off at the first feed zone. It is true it has been a long cycling season but the major teams in the race do not seem interested in the Tour of Britain.
RESULTS
Tour of Britain stage one: Glasgow-Castle Douglas
1, Martin Pedersen (Denmark) Team CSC 101 miles in 4-03-38
2, Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com) at same time
3, Matthew Goss (SouthAustralia.com) s.t
4, Francesco Chicchi (Quick Step) at 2-36
5, Filippo Pozzato (Quick Step)
6, Russell Downing (DFL)
7, Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile)
8, James Vanlandschoot (Landbouwkrediet)
9, Alex Rasmussen (Denmark)
10, Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) all s.t
Overall classification after stage one
1, Martin Pedersen (Denmark) Team CSC
2, Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com) at two secs
3, Matthew Goss (South Australia) at five secs
4, Francesco Chicchi (Quick Step) at 2-51
5, Filippo Pozzato (Quick Step)
6, Russel Downing (DFL)
7, Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile)
8, James Vanlandschoot (Landbouwkrediet)
9, Alex Rasmussen (Denmark)
10, Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) all s.t.
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