Stevie Williams (Israel Premier Tech) took a popular home win on stage 2 of the Tour of Britain Men after a breathtaking day of racing in the north east of England.
After an intense fight to form the day’s break, eight riders eventually escaped: Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), James McKay (Saint Piran), Laurent Gervais (Project Echelon Racing), King of the Mountains leader Callum Thornley (Trinity Racing), Louis Sutton (Great Britain), Baptiste Veistroffer (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development Team), Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing), and Cade Bickmore (Project Echelon Racing).
The break’s lead had gone out to 3:34 with 120km to go but with Soudal Quick-Step setting the pace in the peloton, the gap was never allowed to go beyond that.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 2: Darlington to Redcar, England – The Breakaway – Louis Sutton (Great Britain). Image: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
The racing came alive with 72km to go when a counter attack moved clear from the peloton involving Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), Joey Rosskopf (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Oliver Peace (Team dsm firminech PostNL), Gil Gelders (Soudal Quick-Step), Tour de l’Avenir winner Joe Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech), Ben Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) and a number of others.
On the final categorised climb of the day, Lythe Bank, with around 50km remaining, Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) attacked from the peloton. Only teammate Julian Alaphillipe, Stevie Williams (Israel Premier Tech), Oscar Onley (Team dsm firminech PostNL) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) – just – could hold Evenepoel’s wheel, the pace relentless.
Pidcock was dropped before the top of the climb though, before Evenepoel’s group joined the counter move. Not long after, the morning break and the chasers merged, Evenepoel driving the pace to prevent Pidcock, who had been joined by Swift, from reaching his leading group.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 2: Darlington to Redcar, England – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) pulling on the front of the break. Image: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
The tactic worked, Pidcock and Swift eventually absorbed by the peloton, leaving Ineos Grenadiers – now absent from the front of the race – to do the chasing behind.
Out front, riders from the original break began to drop one-by-one before an acceleration by Alaphillipe kickstarted a whittling down process which saw just eight riders reach the foot of the first of two ascents of Saltburn Bank made up of Onley, Williams, Tom Donnenworth (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Veistroffer, Sutton, Blackmore and Alaphillipe. Evenepoel and Stewart then found their way back to the front to make it ten with 26km to go, the Ineos-led peloton 1:31 behind.
Further attacks followed, with Onley, Alaphillipe and Blackmore all active in the frenetic battle for the stage. But the eight leaders were back together again as they hit Saltburn Bank for the final time.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 2: Darlington to Redcar, England – Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) climbing the Saltburn Bank. Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
On the steep slopes of the Bank, Williams put in a stinging attack that only Onley could match, Alaphillipe eventually clawing his way on the back wheel of Onley to make it three over the top of the climb.
The trio had a 12 second lead with 7.5km left, the stage finely poised, Alaphillipe refusing to cooperate with Onley and Williams, while behind Evenepoel and Blackmore were sat on in the chasing group, leaving Sutton, Donnenwirth and Donovan to do the work.
The gap rose as the kilometres ticked down, Williams and Onley extending their lead despite Alaphillipe’s continued sandbagging, and as they reached the flamme rouge it was clear that the winner would be one of the three.
Williams was left to lead out the sprint but he had enough power and speed to hold on, despite Alaphillipe’s best efforts, taking both the stage victory and race lead in the process. Alaphillipe came a close second with Onley third. Blackmore led in the five chasers 21 seconds later.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 2: Darlington to Redcar, England – Stevie Williams (Israel – Premier Tech) wins Stage 2 of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 in Redcar. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
The result means Williams holds a 6 second lead over Onley (Team dsm-in the general classification with Alaphillipe 16 seconds back.
Thornley won maximum King of the Mountains points to ensure that he will win the mountains competition as long as he finishes the race. But it was a day to forget for British WorldTour team Ineos Grenadiers, Ethan Hayter their best finisher in 23rd place.
Stevie Williams (Israel Premier Tech) took a popular home win on stage 2 of the Tour of Britain Men after a breathtaking day of racing in the north east of England.
Featured image: SWpix.com
Report
After the Grand Depart in Kelso, the race moved south of the border for stage 2, a tough 152 km trek from Darlington to Redcar on the cards.
After an intense fight to form the day’s break, eight riders eventually escaped: Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), James McKay (Saint Piran), Laurent Gervais (Project Echelon Racing), King of the Mountains leader Callum Thornley (Trinity Racing), Louis Sutton (Great Britain), Baptiste Veistroffer (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development Team), Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing), and Cade Bickmore (Project Echelon Racing).
The break’s lead had gone out to 3:34 with 120km to go but with Soudal Quick-Step setting the pace in the peloton, the gap was never allowed to go beyond that.
The racing came alive with 72km to go when a counter attack moved clear from the peloton involving Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), Joey Rosskopf (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Oliver Peace (Team dsm firminech PostNL), Gil Gelders (Soudal Quick-Step), Tour de l’Avenir winner Joe Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech), Ben Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) and a number of others.
On the final categorised climb of the day, Lythe Bank, with around 50km remaining, Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) attacked from the peloton. Only teammate Julian Alaphillipe, Stevie Williams (Israel Premier Tech), Oscar Onley (Team dsm firminech PostNL) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) – just – could hold Evenepoel’s wheel, the pace relentless.
Pidcock was dropped before the top of the climb though, before Evenepoel’s group joined the counter move. Not long after, the morning break and the chasers merged, Evenepoel driving the pace to prevent Pidcock, who had been joined by Swift, from reaching his leading group.
The tactic worked, Pidcock and Swift eventually absorbed by the peloton, leaving Ineos Grenadiers – now absent from the front of the race – to do the chasing behind.
Out front, riders from the original break began to drop one-by-one before an acceleration by Alaphillipe kickstarted a whittling down process which saw just eight riders reach the foot of the first of two ascents of Saltburn Bank made up of Onley, Williams, Tom Donnenworth (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Veistroffer, Sutton, Blackmore and Alaphillipe. Evenepoel and Stewart then found their way back to the front to make it ten with 26km to go, the Ineos-led peloton 1:31 behind.
Further attacks followed, with Onley, Alaphillipe and Blackmore all active in the frenetic battle for the stage. But the eight leaders were back together again as they hit Saltburn Bank for the final time.
On the steep slopes of the Bank, Williams put in a stinging attack that only Onley could match, Alaphillipe eventually clawing his way on the back wheel of Onley to make it three over the top of the climb.
The trio had a 12 second lead with 7.5km left, the stage finely poised, Alaphillipe refusing to cooperate with Onley and Williams, while behind Evenepoel and Blackmore were sat on in the chasing group, leaving Sutton, Donnenwirth and Donovan to do the work.
The gap rose as the kilometres ticked down, Williams and Onley extending their lead despite Alaphillipe’s continued sandbagging, and as they reached the flamme rouge it was clear that the winner would be one of the three.
Williams was left to lead out the sprint but he had enough power and speed to hold on, despite Alaphillipe’s best efforts, taking both the stage victory and race lead in the process. Alaphillipe came a close second with Onley third. Blackmore led in the five chasers 21 seconds later.
The result means Williams holds a 6 second lead over Onley (Team dsm-in the general classification with Alaphillipe 16 seconds back.
Thornley won maximum King of the Mountains points to ensure that he will win the mountains competition as long as he finishes the race. But it was a day to forget for British WorldTour team Ineos Grenadiers, Ethan Hayter their best finisher in 23rd place.
Another tough stage awaits the riders tomorrow as they take on 166 km from Sheffield to Barnsley featuring 2700 m of elevation.
Results
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