Townsend up in sprint, O'Brien makes cut, on tough Tour Britain opener | Video

Rory Townsend, far right, was in the hunt at the end of the stage into Kelso, won by Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step (Photo: Simon Wilkinson-SWpix.com)

Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) has gotten his Tour of Britain campaign off to a strong start, making the reduced peloton and sprinting to 6th place in a strong international field.

Though a relatively large bunch - 60 of the 107 starters - arrived at the finish in Kelso, Scotland, to fight it out for victory, there was also significant damage back the road; crashes and the speed splitting the race.

The victory went to Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), the third win of his neo pro season, ahead of three British riders; Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech) 2nd, obert Donaldson (Trinity Racing) 3rd and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) in 4th.

Though the peloton split significantly today, with some big time losses for those who lost their place, young Irish rider Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek) was one of those who made the cut.

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The 19-year-old Corkman was 47th, on the same time as the winner, and did well today to make it in the field after the pace was ramped up in the final by Soudal-QuickStep's Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel once the early breakaway was caught.

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Irish riders Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing) and Ronan O'Connor (Global 6 United) were also in action today, placing 88th and 104th, at 6:08 and 10:07 respectively.

Both had team mates in the four-man breakaway; Callum Thornley for Trinity Racing and Callum Ormiston for Global 6 United, with Thornley taking the climbers' jersey today. The six-stage race continues tomorrow with a 152.1km stage from Darlington to Redcar.

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