Sam Bennett crashes on Tour of Britain opener as Peter Hawkins makes escape and takes vital time bonuses

Belfast's Peter Hawkins riding for IG Sigma Sport, seen here second from left in the main escape of the day at the Tour of Britain stage 1 (Photo: VeloUK.net)

By Gavin McLoughlin

Aaron Gate of the An Post-Chainreaction squad took the lead in the intermediate sprints classification and is fourth overall after stage 1 of the Tour of Britain today, Sunday.

The New Zealander constituted part of the five-man break of the day, hoovering up seven points and four bonus seconds at intermediate checkpoints on the 210-kilometre ride from Peebles to Dunlanrig Castle.

Gate was caught behind a crash that occurred in the finishing straight, but was awarded the same time as stage winner Elia Viviani (Cannondale) by rule and will wear a fetching green and red jersey tomorrow.

Viviani claimed victory in a bunch gallop at the end of a stage that on paper had looked to suit the likes of Gate’s An Post teammates Shane Archbold and Sam Bennett.

Archbold was able to bag a strong seventh place, but Bennett was unable to contest the finish after hitting the deck himself. At the time of writing, it appears as though the 22-year-old Irishman will be able to continue racing.

Peter Hawkins (IG-Sigma Sport) was also part of the day’s escape group, and the Belfast rider claimed two bonus seconds at intermediate sprints. He too was caught behind the late crash, but similarly was awarded Viviani’s time and is eighth on general classification.

The stage also saw the return to action of Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp), who crashed out of the Vuelta a Espana at the end of last month. The Irishman finished in the main bunch today.

Prior to his crash, Martin was expected to be among the very best in the elite men’s road race at the World Championships. That event is just two weeks away and this race is now a vital block in his preparation. If fully fit, Martin will be one of the hot favourites for the Worlds.

The tenth edition of the modern-day Tour of Britain got underway with a route that looked made for the sprinters.

After a frenetic start, Ireland’s Hawkins found himself in the break of the day alongside his teammate Ben Greenwood, An Post’s Gate, Kristian House (Rapha Condor JLT) and Christophe Laborie (Sojasun).

It was a foul, rain-sodden morning in Scotland and you felt a twinge of sympathy for the likes of Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who was a long, long way from the tropical climes of his native Colombia.

At one point Hawkins, Gate and their companions had a lead of over five minutes, but they were riding into a ferocious gale and once Team Sky took control the leaders never looked like staying away.

However, their time out front did allow the Irishman and the New Zealander to accrue those valuable sprint points and time bonuses.

The weather cleared up about 75 kilometres from home, and with 50 kilometres to go the gap was less than a minute. Still Sky let Hawkins, Gate and the rest dangle out front, and with 43 kilometres to go Anthony Delaplace (Sojasun) rode across from the peloton and continued straight past the leaders.

With Hawkins and Gate now back in the bunch, British champion Mark Cavendish’s Omega Pharma-Quick Step lieutenants had taken charge of the pursuit. Delaplace toiled hard and gradually eked out an advantage, but his efforts would ultimately be in vain as he was swallowed up with 14 kilometres to go.

Sky were leading the way again and the next to attack was a former member of their squad. Britain’s Alex Dowsett (Movistar) jumped clear with 12.5 kilometres remaining, but he did not last long out front. That familiar Sky train was now operating at full gas and in the high winds their pace was causing all sorts of problems for the weary men at the rear of the bunch.

Round a slippery corner and there was a crash near the back as the sprinters teams began to tussle for position on the narrow roads. Cavendish was a comfortable pre-stage favourite, but on the run to the line the Manxman got boxed in and was nowhere near contention.

The British Champion’s lead-out man Alessandro Petacchi was forced to fly the flag for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, but none could match the pace of Viviani.

Riders were picking themselves off the ground behind as the Italian took his victory, and let’s hope there is no repeat on tomorrow’s hilly 187-kilometre ride from Carlisle to Kendal.

@gavmcloughlin