TOUR OF BRITAIN
STAGE FOUR
"ANDRE GREIPEL SHOWS US HE'S STILL ONE OF THE STRONGEST SPRINTERS IN THE PELOTON. THE 'GORILLA' HAS A LOT OF LIFE IN HIM YET."
YANTO BARKER
_
André Greipel won stage four from a fast and hectic bunch sprint after a perfectly executed leadout from his teammate, Jasper de Buyst, the Belgian picking the perfect line through the melee of other sprinters.
Patrick Bevin (BMC), the current race leader opened up the sprint early, catching many of the other sprinters off-guard, protecting his first place.
Only Greipel and Sacha Modolo (Team EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale) could hold Bevin's wheel, the trio filling out the podium.
_
_
With the sprinters having their day, and the intermediate bonus seconds mopped up by the breakaway, the OVO Energy green jersey of overall race leader will remain on the shoulders of Patrick Bevin (BMC). The Kiwi rider's 3rd place grabbed him four extra bonus seconds in the general classification.
And it's a change of leader for the Wahoo Points jersey for the third stage running - Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) handing the jersey over to Bevin to add to his collection. André Greipel will wear the Wahoo Points jersey on behalf of race leader, Bevin, on tomorrow's team time trial stage.
_
_
Holmes hoarded the spoils on offer to the breakaway group, taking all the intermediate sprints and maximum points over all three categorised climbs. He pulls on the red jersey previously worn by Team WIGGINS' Matthew Teggart and now lies in a strong 3rd place in the Skoda King of Mountains standings.
The KOM jersey remains in the Dimension データcamp for yet another day however, Nicholas Dlamini taking the jersey from his teammate, Scott Davies (pictured), thanks to his climbing exploits in today's six-man escape.
Tomorrow the race heads to the Lake District for a tough team time trial up the gruelling Whinlatter Pass.
_