Pozzato Wins as Goss Crashes Out

 

Stage 3, Yorkshire

Thursday, August 31st | www.tourofbritain.com
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STAGE REPORT

A dramatic Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain into Sheffield was won by QuickStep-Innergetic's Filippo Pozzato who was part of a break of some 25 riders who got clear of the main field in the latter stages and stayed away, though somewhat fragmented by the finish. The main field arrived in Sheffield many minutes later in dribs and drabs.

 

Stylish celebration after a class ride in bad conditions - winner Filippo Pozzato

 

The other big news of the day was the retirement of race leader Matt Goss, who reportedly crashed out. He was one of eleven retirements on a day when the tough terrain and conditions took a toll on the field.

After several unsuccessful attacks throughout the stage, the crucial break of about 25 riders appears to have formed over the difficult stretch of road down the Strines valley, where poor surfaces, steep switchback climbs and descents and narrow roads combined with driving rain made things very difficult for riders. This group, which included GB's stage 2 winner Roger Hammond was initially some ten riders, but World Champion Tom Boonen brought the remaining riders up with him after a concerted chase.

 

Headlights, reflections and grim expressions - it was a hard day for everyone........

 

.......and for Maarten Tjallingii (Skil Shimano) in particular. His crash came at 250m to go. Picture: Richard Robotham

 

Also in the group and impressing everyone with his toughness and maturity was first year senior Ian Stannard of GB. Indeed, the GB boys who have been racing in Italy this summer, again did a great job putting somebody into virtually every break during the stage.

Once established, the break drove well clear of a dispirited bunch. However, with the moorland of the Strines behind them they began to think about who was going to win the race and not surprisingly the break appears to have fragmented in the run in to Sheffield, which was again on heavy roads with regular inclines. It's here that Tom Boonen (pictured right, driving thisngs along earlier) is also reported to have crashed - the world champion trailed in some 20 minutes down having been swept up by the main field.

 

One man who did enjoy the run-in was Filippo Pozzato who had almost half a minute on second placed Michael Rogers at the finish. Our man at the race Larry Hickmott, caught up with Russell Downing at the finish and heard from the DFL star that stage winner Pozzato had made his race-winning jump at the final sprint of the day, Millstone Edge, which came with about 10 miles to go.

 

Last year's race winner Nick Nuyens was third and, significantly, first stage winner Martin Pederson was fourth. Pederson's first day break companion Luis Pasamontes was 42 seconds down on him at the finish. As a result, and with Goss out, Pederson now has a 51 second lead in the general classification ahead of Pasamontes, with Pozzato third at 2 minutes 11 seconds. Russell Downing, who retains the points jersey, is the best placed British rider in 8th. Roger Hammond is 20th, over four minutes down.

 

After the stage Larry Hickmott caught up with Filippo Pozzato:

"This was an important race for me today and also for my team Quickstep. I need to get a result to get my selection for the Italian team for the World Championships. We had two guys in the break after 15 kilometres, and then we chased another move and went across to a break of 11 or 12. Then we attacked again and then there was a crash with Boonen and Jacob Piil of CSC. So I waited for them and then went after the last sprint with about 15 kilometres to go."

 

"The fact that I got a decent gap showed I am going well and hopefully the people from the Italian team will see that." On the bad weather, he said "if I am riding well, I can ride in good or bad weather and was just focused on the ride and not on the bad conditions. The penultimate descent was the most dangerous and a lot crashed and hopefully nobody is seriously hurt."

Results (General Classification & other competitions >>>>)

1 Pozzato, Filippo QuickStep-Innergetic 4h28'18"
2 Rogers, Michael T-Mobile @ 32"
3 Nuyens, Nick QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
4 Pedersen, Martin CSC @ s/t
5 Tschopp, Johann Phonak iShares @ s/t
6 Schleck, Andy CSC @ 39"
7 Keisse, Iljo Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ 01'02"
8 Downing, Russell DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
9 Allegrini, Mirko Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ 01'06"
10 House, Kristan Recycling.co.uk @ 01'08"
11 Rooijakkers, Piet Skil-Shimano @ 01'10"
12 Kroon, Karsten CSC @ s/t
13 Thijs, Erwin Unibet.com @ 01'12"
14 Sabido, Hugo Barloworld @ s/t
15 Cappelle, Andy Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
16 Sinkewitz, Patrik T-Mobile @ s/t
17 Pasamontes, Luis Unibet.com @ 01'14"
18 Ten Dam, Laurens Unibet.com @ s/t
19 Tjallingii, Maarten Skil-Shimano @ 01'12"
20 Hammond, Roger Great Britain @ 02'02"
21 Roberts, Luke CSC @ s/t
22 Vanlandschoot, James Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
23 Stannard, Ian Great Britain @ s/t
24 Morkov, Michael Denmark @ 02'16"
25 Hunter, Robert Phonak iShares @ 05'30"
26 Cox, Ryan Barloworld @ s/t
27 Piil, Jakob CSC @ 12'46"
28 Clarke, Simon South Australia.com-AIS @ 15'45"
29 Lisabeth, Kenny Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ 19'20"
30 Goesinnen, Floris Skil-Shimano @ s/t
31 Cavendish, Mark T-Mobile @ s/t
32 Tennant, Andrew Great Britain @ s/t
33 Van Bon, Leon Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
34 Vierhouten, Aart Skil-Shimano @ 19'23"
35 Cretskens, Wilfried QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
36 Boonen, Tom QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
37 Ljungblad, Jonas Unibet.com @ 29'14"
38 Rasmussen, Alex Denmark @ s/t
39 Downing, Dean DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
40 Lancaster, Brett Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ s/t
41 Jennings, Cameron DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
42 Manning, Paul Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
43 Barbe, Koen Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
44 Chicchi, Francesco QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
45 Steensen, Andre Denmark @ s/t
46 Sander, Ross Great Britain @ s/t
47 Roesems, Bert Davitamon Lotto @ 29'18"
48 Swift, Ben Great Britain @ s/t
49 Van Summeren, Johan Davitamon Lotto @ 29'21"
50 Willems, Frederik Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
51 Weissinger, Rene Skil-Shimano @ 29'22"
52 Oliphant, Evan Recycling.co.uk @ 29'24"
53 Gates, Nick Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
54 Garate, Juan Manuel QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
55 Clancy, Edward Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
56 Astarloa, Igor Barloworld @ s/t
57 Degano, Enrico Barloworld @ s/t
58 Veuchulen, Frederik Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
59 McCarty, Patrick Phonak iShares @ s/t
60 Priamo, Matteo Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ s/t
61 Newton, Christopher Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
62 Greenwood, Ben Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
63 Partridge, Rob Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
64 Mattan, Nico Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
65 Meadley, James South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
66 Coutts, Alex DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
67 Higgerson, Shaun South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
68 Kessler, Matthias T-Mobile @ s/t
69 Jorgensen, Casper Denmark @ s/t
70 Merckx, Axel Phonak iShares @ s/t
71 Lloyd, Mathew South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
72 Thomas, Geraint Great Britain @ s/t
73 Christensen, Mads Barloworld @ s/t
74 Barras, Tom DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
75 Clarke, Jonathon South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
76 Sharman, Robin Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
77 Vandevelde, Christian CSC @ s/t
78 Hunt, Jeremy Unibet.com @ s/

 

General Classification & other competitions >>>>