2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men: Kooij sprints to opening stage win in Southwold
Olav Kooij made it five career Tour of Britain stage wins with a perfectly timed sprint in Southwold, overhauling Tord Gudmestad in the final metres. Hugo Hofstetter took third, while Sam Watson was best Brit in sixth on a rain-soaked opening stage, Tuesday 2 September.
Olav Kooij continued his love affair with the Tour of Britain, powering to victory in Southwold on the opening stage of the 2025 edition. The Dutchman, already a four-time stage winner at the race, made it five with a perfectly judged sprint, timing his effort to overhaul Tord Gudmestad (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) in the dying metres. Hugo Hofstetter (Israel – Premier Tech) rounded out the podium.
Featured image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Report
The 161.4km stage from Woodbridge to Southwold began briskly, with the day’s break forming almost as soon as the flag dropped. Victor Vercouille and Milan Lanhove (both Flanders–Baloise), Diego Uriarte (Kern Pharma) and Joshua Golliker (Great Britain) prised open a gap of nearly three minutes across the flat, windswept roads of the Fens.
2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain – Stage 1: Woodbridge to Southwold – Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders – Baloise). Image: Bruce Rollinson/SWpix.com
With only 831 metres of climbing to tackle, the peloton was content to keep the escapees on a tight leash. Visma | Lease a Bike and Decathlon AG2R patrolled the front, setting a steady tempo while rain showers dampened an otherwise controlled day. Lanhove helped himself to the first KOM jersey on Mill Hill, but it was Vercouille who lasted deepest into the finale, swept up just 5.5km from the line after a brave solo effort.
That set up the expected bunch sprint along Southwold seafront. The final run-in was tense, with Ineos Grenadiers, Uno-X Mobility, Picnic PostNL and Unibet–Tietema Rockets all jostling for control. Inside the final kilometre, Visma’s well-drilled train appeared to fade, only to surge again at the decisive moment.
Matthew Brennan delivered Kooij to perfection, hitting the front with 300 metres to go. Gudmestad launched a surprise long-range sprint into the headwind and briefly looked set to steal the win, but Kooij latched onto his wheel before surging past with metres to spare.
2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain – Stage 1: Woodbridge to Southwold – Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) wins Stage 1. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
“It’s a really good feeling,” said Kooij afterwards. “I’ve got good memories from this race two years ago and I’m really happy to continue the success.”
Sam Watson was the first Brit home in sixth for Ineos Grenadiers, while teammate Geraint Thomas safely finished in the bunch despite a late puncture on what is set to be his final week as a professional.
Stage two keeps the race in Suffolk, covering 169.3km around Mid Suffolk and Babergh before a finish in Stowmarket. With another flat profile, the sprinters will expect another chance.
Olav Kooij continued his love affair with the Tour of Britain, powering to victory in Southwold on the opening stage of the 2025 edition. The Dutchman, already a four-time stage winner at the race, made it five with a perfectly judged sprint, timing his effort to overhaul Tord Gudmestad (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) in the dying metres. Hugo Hofstetter (Israel – Premier Tech) rounded out the podium.
Featured image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Report
The 161.4km stage from Woodbridge to Southwold began briskly, with the day’s break forming almost as soon as the flag dropped. Victor Vercouille and Milan Lanhove (both Flanders–Baloise), Diego Uriarte (Kern Pharma) and Joshua Golliker (Great Britain) prised open a gap of nearly three minutes across the flat, windswept roads of the Fens.
With only 831 metres of climbing to tackle, the peloton was content to keep the escapees on a tight leash. Visma | Lease a Bike and Decathlon AG2R patrolled the front, setting a steady tempo while rain showers dampened an otherwise controlled day. Lanhove helped himself to the first KOM jersey on Mill Hill, but it was Vercouille who lasted deepest into the finale, swept up just 5.5km from the line after a brave solo effort.
That set up the expected bunch sprint along Southwold seafront. The final run-in was tense, with Ineos Grenadiers, Uno-X Mobility, Picnic PostNL and Unibet–Tietema Rockets all jostling for control. Inside the final kilometre, Visma’s well-drilled train appeared to fade, only to surge again at the decisive moment.
Matthew Brennan delivered Kooij to perfection, hitting the front with 300 metres to go. Gudmestad launched a surprise long-range sprint into the headwind and briefly looked set to steal the win, but Kooij latched onto his wheel before surging past with metres to spare.
“It’s a really good feeling,” said Kooij afterwards. “I’ve got good memories from this race two years ago and I’m really happy to continue the success.”
Sam Watson was the first Brit home in sixth for Ineos Grenadiers, while teammate Geraint Thomas safely finished in the bunch despite a late puncture on what is set to be his final week as a professional.
Stage two keeps the race in Suffolk, covering 169.3km around Mid Suffolk and Babergh before a finish in Stowmarket. With another flat profile, the sprinters will expect another chance.
Results
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