Tour of Britain

Yanto is out on loan from Le Col HQ this week, commentating for ITV4 on the Tour of Britain. A lot can happen in the space of four days, and with stage five of the Tour now underway, you’d be forgiven for not having yet caught up on all the crashes, breaks, and jersey battles. Luckily, with the help of the BIKE Channel Canyon press team, we’ve whipped together a round-up…

DAY 1 

Orica-Scott’s Caleb Ewan clinched stage glory – and the first leader’s jersey – from two-time champion Edvald Boasson Hagen in a stunning sprint finish on the Kelso cobbles.

Defining moment of the day: A crash which happened towards the front of the bunch just 16km after the roll out in Edinburgh. This helped a group of eight men jump clear and establish the day’s breakaway.

How did our BIKE Channel Canyon boys do?

BIKE Channel Canyon’s Rob Partridge kicked off his record-equalling 11th Tour of Britain with a brilliant day up the road. All six of the remaining BIKE Channel Canyon team finished safely, with Dexter Gardias inside the front group in 54th. Rory Townsend was next home, 1min 50sec adrift in 74th. James Lowsley-Williams and Harry Tanfield crossed the line at 6.26, while Chris Opie, who was caught up in an early crash, and Partridge rolled over the line together at 12.43. 

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine sprinter’s jersey: Won by Karol Domagalski (ONE Pro Cycling)

Skoda King Of The Mountains Jersey: Won by Lukasz Owsian (CCC)

Leader’s Jersey: Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott)

DAY 2

The 211.7km ‘queen stage’ saw Edvald Boasson Hagen sprinting across the line first for Dimension Data. However, the two-time champion was later relegated for impeding his rivals as he veered left in the bunch kick, with Team Sky’s Elia Viviani handed the win and the leader’s jersey.

Defining moment of the day: BIKE Channel Canyon’s, Rory Townsend dug deep to take on the longest stage of the 2017 Tour from the very front. The 22-year-old, from Addlestone in Surrey, spent almost 190km at the head of affairs as he starred in a seven-man breakaway, within 5km of the start line. 

How did our BIKE Channel Canyon boys do?

After being caught up in a crash during the opening kilometres of stage 1, Chris Opie managed to get himself back on the start line for day 2. He said:

“I’ve got some tyre burn and some sore muscles but otherwise I’m good. It seems to be tradition. Every time Rob [Partridge] and I are team-mates, I crash on stage one in Scotland!”

In front of huge crowds on the roadside and millions watching the footage live on ITV, the team refused to be overawed by their World Tour rivals. James Lowsley-Williams, Harry Tanfield, Dexter Gardias and Rob Partridge all finished in the main bunch, with Rory Townsend and Chris Opie home 1min 17sec later.

Skoda King Of The Mountains Jersey: Jacob Scott (An Post Chain Reaction)

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine sprinter’s jersey: Retained by Karol Domagalski (ONE Pro Cycling)

Leader’s Jersey: Elia Viviani (Team Sky)

DAY 3

Orica-Scott teed up Caleb Ewan to outgun Edvald Boasson Hagen and Alexander Kristoff at the line. The Aussie sprinter, who won stage one in Kelso, regained the lead in the general classification – just six seconds ahead of Elia Viviani and seven in front of Boasson Hagen.

How did our BIKE Channel Canyon boys do?

Harry Tanfield showcased his growing potential, before Caleb Ewan sprinted to glory. The 22-year-old Great Ayton talent was rewarded with the High5 combativity prize after spending more than 150km up the road in grim conditions in North Lincolnshire.

After helping light up the 176.9km battle from Normanby Hall & Country Park to Scunthorpe in a five-man break, Tanfield clinched BIKE Channel Canyon‘s maiden podium in Britain’s premier road race.

Dexter Gadrias and James Lowsley-Williams finished in the main bunch – the latter making a remarkable recovery from a heavy early crash – as the team produced another impressive performance.

Skoda King Of The Mountains Jersey: Graham Briggs (JLT Condor)

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine sprinter’s jersey: Graham Briggs (JLT Condor)

Leader’s Jersey: Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott)

DAY 4

Fernando Gaviria, of Quick-Step Floors, celebrated the victory ahead of Elia Viviani, Alexander Kristoff and Dylan Groenewegen. Alan Banaszek of CCC, was fifth and Wanty Groupe Gobert’s Andrea Pasqualon sixth ahead of the superb Harry Tanfield (BIKE Channel Canyon), who was the first British rider across the line.

How did our BIKE Channel Canyon boys do?

James Lowsley-Williams admitted he is battered and bruised after his on yesterday's rain soaked stage, but the 25-year-old, from Tetbury in Gloucestershire vowed to fight on, in the hope his injuries would ease. He said:

“It’s not the greatest feeling crashing hard then having more than 100 miles of hard racing to do in front of you. I have got a fair bit of road rash and a swollen knee but I’m hoping it will loosen off during today’s stage.”

Sadly, despite starting stage 4, Lowsley-Williams saw his race ended when he was disqualified for illegally attacking on the pavement in a desperate bid to bridge across to the leaders up the road.

Harry Tanfield sprinted to seventh place in a high-class finale. The 22-year-old, from Great Ayton in North Yorkshire, backed up his day in the break on stage three with a superb kick in Newark-on-Trent.

Skoda King Of The Mountains Jersey: Jacob Scott (An Post Chain Reaction’s 

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine sprinter’s jersey: Mark McNally (Wanty Groupe Gobert)

Leader’s Jersey: Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors)

STAGE 5

There are still currently 62 riders all within 20 seconds of the race leader’s OVO Energy Green jersey, going into what likely to be the decisive day in the 2017 race, as the riders gear up for a time trial through Essex. Tune in to ITV4 for live coverage and to catch Yanto's commentary.