Paul Magnier showcased his dominance once again, claiming his third stage win in the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men after a thrilling 149.6km stage around West Northamptonshire. The French rider, representing Soudal Quick-Step, crossed the finish line ahead of Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) and Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech) in what has become a masterclass performance throughout the race.
Featured image: Elliot Keen/British Cycling/via SWpix.com
Report
The stage began at the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus, where the peloton saw an early flurry of attacks led by TRINITY Racing. Connor Swift (INEOS Grenadiers) launched a solo effort that was soon joined by Danish champion Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) and Matt Holmes (Great Britain Cycling Team), forming a trio that quickly established a 30-second gap.
Attempts from race leader Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) to bridge the gap before the first categorised climb at Newnham Hill were swiftly neutralised. Holmes crested the climb first, followed by Swift and Pedersen, with Paul Wright (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) securing the final point. The trio maintained their lead over the second climb at Bullshill, where Alaphilippe, after another attack, claimed fourth place but was soon caught by the peloton.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 5: The West Northamptonshire Stage Northampton to Northampton – Connor Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Rasmus Pedersen (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale DT), Matt Holmes (Great Britain) in the breakaway. Image: Elliot Keen/British Cycling/via SWpix.com
Josh Golliker (Groupama-FDJ Continental) made a solo attempt to join the breakaway, but the effort fell short, and he found himself caught between the leaders and the peloton. As the breakaway’s advantage stretched to 2:40, the chase was taken up by Soudal Quick-Step and Israel-Premier Tech, bringing the gap down to just under two minutes at the intermediate sprint in Holcot, where Holmes took top honours.
With 15 km remaining, the peloton began to panic as the breakaway held a minute’s lead. Soudal Quick-Step’s Remco Evenepoel, a double Olympic champion, led a fierce chase, reducing the gap to 30 seconds with seven kilometres to go. The breakaway clung to their lead until just before the final kilometre, with the peloton closing in fast, assisted by Bahrain-Victorious and Uno-X Mobility.
A crash in the Soudal Quick-Step ranks could have derailed their plans, but Alaphilippe managed to guide Magnier into position for the sprint finish. As Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) began the lead-out for teammate Vernon on the rising finish in Northampton’s town centre, Magnier unleashed his winning move. With two bike lengths clear of his rivals, he secured a commanding victory, celebrating his second consecutive stage win and third of the tour.
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 – Stage 5: The West Northamptonshire Stage Northampton to Northampton – Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) wins Stage 5 of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain 2024 in Northampton. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Erlend Blikra improved on his previous third-place finish, securing second, while Ethan Vernon continued his remarkable consistency with his seventh podium in his home tour, despite still searching for a win.
The general classification remains unchanged, with Stevie Williams retaining his 16-second advantage over Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), the best young rider, heading into the final stage. Magnier strengthened his grip on the red points jersey, while Callum Thornley (TRINITY Racing) retained the blue king of the mountains jersey as all categorised climbs have been completed.
Connor Swift was awarded the day’s combativity prize for his aggressive riding in the breakaway.
Magnier is now within striking distance of Tour of Britain history. A victory in the final stage would see him equal the record for stage wins in a single edition of the modern race, a feat shared by Olav Kooij (2023) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009).
Paul Magnier showcased his dominance once again, claiming his third stage win in the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men after a thrilling 149.6km stage around West Northamptonshire. The French rider, representing Soudal Quick-Step, crossed the finish line ahead of Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) and Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech) in what has become a masterclass performance throughout the race.
Featured image: Elliot Keen/British Cycling/via SWpix.com
Report
The stage began at the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus, where the peloton saw an early flurry of attacks led by TRINITY Racing. Connor Swift (INEOS Grenadiers) launched a solo effort that was soon joined by Danish champion Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Uno-X Mobility) and Matt Holmes (Great Britain Cycling Team), forming a trio that quickly established a 30-second gap.
Attempts from race leader Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) to bridge the gap before the first categorised climb at Newnham Hill were swiftly neutralised. Holmes crested the climb first, followed by Swift and Pedersen, with Paul Wright (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) securing the final point. The trio maintained their lead over the second climb at Bullshill, where Alaphilippe, after another attack, claimed fourth place but was soon caught by the peloton.
Josh Golliker (Groupama-FDJ Continental) made a solo attempt to join the breakaway, but the effort fell short, and he found himself caught between the leaders and the peloton. As the breakaway’s advantage stretched to 2:40, the chase was taken up by Soudal Quick-Step and Israel-Premier Tech, bringing the gap down to just under two minutes at the intermediate sprint in Holcot, where Holmes took top honours.
With 15 km remaining, the peloton began to panic as the breakaway held a minute’s lead. Soudal Quick-Step’s Remco Evenepoel, a double Olympic champion, led a fierce chase, reducing the gap to 30 seconds with seven kilometres to go. The breakaway clung to their lead until just before the final kilometre, with the peloton closing in fast, assisted by Bahrain-Victorious and Uno-X Mobility.
A crash in the Soudal Quick-Step ranks could have derailed their plans, but Alaphilippe managed to guide Magnier into position for the sprint finish. As Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) began the lead-out for teammate Vernon on the rising finish in Northampton’s town centre, Magnier unleashed his winning move. With two bike lengths clear of his rivals, he secured a commanding victory, celebrating his second consecutive stage win and third of the tour.
Erlend Blikra improved on his previous third-place finish, securing second, while Ethan Vernon continued his remarkable consistency with his seventh podium in his home tour, despite still searching for a win.
The general classification remains unchanged, with Stevie Williams retaining his 16-second advantage over Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), the best young rider, heading into the final stage. Magnier strengthened his grip on the red points jersey, while Callum Thornley (TRINITY Racing) retained the blue king of the mountains jersey as all categorised climbs have been completed.
Connor Swift was awarded the day’s combativity prize for his aggressive riding in the breakaway.
Magnier is now within striking distance of Tour of Britain history. A victory in the final stage would see him equal the record for stage wins in a single edition of the modern race, a feat shared by Olav Kooij (2023) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009).
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