Willems Wins From Break of Eight
Stage 4, West Midlands, Wolverhampton to Birmingham
Friday, September 1 | www.tourofbritain.com
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STAGE REPORT
Stage four of the 2006 Tour of Britain was won by Chocolade Jacques-Topsport rider Frederik Willems, with young Isle of Man T-Mobile rider Mark Cavendish second and Paul Manning of Landbouwkrediet-Colnago third.
They were part of an eight-man break which escaped the clutches of the main field in the first half-hour of the stage and stayed away all day. With no overall contenders in the break - Cavendish was the best placed at over 21 minutes down - there was no imperative need for the race leaders' teams to chase them down and they were initially able to build a lead steadily.
The moment the break formed: as CSC moved to the front to control it, Mark Cavendish (almost concealed) saw an opportunity and dragged three riders with him
For a time mid-stage the Skil-Shimano, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare and CSC teams, all of whom had failed to get a rider into the break, chased and at one point they had brought the leaders back to about two minutes, but in the end the chase fizzled out and the break went out again to over five minutes at the finish. Perhaps the warm, dry weather tempted most riders into having a quieter day after the mayhem in the rain of the previous stage.
The break working hard over on the stage's climbs......
...and this is why - the field lined out in hot pursuit
With some ten miles to go, the break began to see attacks as the riders took their chances and tried to force a stage-winning move. However, it wasn't until the last couple of miles that the group really broke up and Willems took his chance and he and Paul Manning forged a small lead, unwilling to let Cavendish have a clear sprinting opportunity, which he was more than likely to win.
Cavendish managed to close down Manning, but the big crowd at the finish in Birmingham was denied a tight finish as Willems came into sight with just enough gap on Cavendish to take the win comfortably.
An interesting celebration from Willens, but with Cav' on his heels he can be forgiven for concentrating on getting over the line!
Manning was a similar distance back and the whole of the leading eight came in one-by-one. For home fans, it was good to see young British riders like Geraint Thomas (GB) and Rob Partridge (Recycling) pulling their weight in a significant break. Francesco Chicchi won the bunch sprint for ninth.
I was 'as you were' on the podium: Pederson still in yellow, Downing still in green...
....and Van Summeren in the T-Mobile Sprints jersey
The stage result had no impact on the overall standings of the race or the main competitions and, with the rest of the field coming in intact and together, the GC is still led by CSC's Martin Pedersen, 51 seconds clear of Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com), with Filippo Pozzato (QuickStep-Innergetic) third at 02'11". Russell Downing continues to lead the points competition and remains the leading home-nation rider in eighth.
After the stage, the winner spoke to waiting reporters: "I didn't have a good day yesterday and I felt cold but today I felt good. I knew I needed to attack early to get a good break and the plan worked."
Paul Manning, who is originally from the Birmingham area enjoyed riding on home territory: "I really wanted to do well today as I knew I was in front of a home crowd. It's great to know your family are out on the road supporting you. Unfortunately I'm more of a pursuit rider than a sprinter and Willems broke away but I really enjoyed the stage. It was a great experience."
Results (General Classification & other competitions >>>>)
1 Willems,Frederik Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 2h54'12"
2 Cavendish,Mark T-Mobile @ 02"
3 Manning,Paul Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ 06"
4 Garate,Juan Manuel QuickStep-Innergetic @ 13"
5 Thomas,Geraint Great Britain @ 15"
6 Jennings,Cameron DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ 19"
7 Partridge,Rob Recycling.co.uk @ 28"
8 Van Summeren,Johan Davitamon Lotto @ 31"
9 Chicchi,Francesco QuickStep-Innergetic @ 05'20"
10 Lisabeth,Kenny Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
11 Downing,Russell DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
12 Vanlandschoot,James Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
13 Keisse,Iljo Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
14 Sander,Ross Great Britain @ s/t
15 Hammond,Roger Great Britain @ s/t
16 Tjallingii,Maarten Skil-Shimano @ s/t
17 Cappelle,Andy Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
18 Morkov,Michael Denmark @ s/t
19 Allegrini,Mirko Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ s/t
20 Rogers,Michael T-Mobile @ s/t
21 House,Kristan Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
22 Roberts,Luke CSC @ s/t
23 Clancy,Edward Landbouwkrediet-Colnago @ s/t
24 Mattan,Nico Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
25 Piil,Jakob CSC @ s/t
26 Pasamontes,Luis Unibet.com @ s/t
27 Nuyens,Nick QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
28 Oliphant,Evan Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
29 Pozzato,Filippo QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
30 Ljungblad,Jonas Unibet.com @ s/t
31 Thijs,Erwin Unibet.com @ s/t
32 Sabido,Hugo Barloworld @ s/t
33 Rasmussen,Alex Denmark @ s/t
34 Stannard,Ian Great Britain @ s/t
35 Swift,Ben Great Britain @ s/t
36 Rooijakkers,Piet Skil-Shimano @ s/t
37 Roesems,Bert Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
38 Hunter,Robert Phonak iShares @ s/t
39 Schleck,Andy CSC @ s/t
40 Kroon,Karsten CSC @ s/t
41 Pedersen,Martin CSC @ s/t
42 Downing,Dean DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
43 Greenwood,Ben Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
44 Vandevelde,Christian CSC @ s/t
45 Cretskens,Wilfried QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
46 Sinkewitz,Patrik T-Mobile @ s/t
47 Tennant,Andrew Great Britain @ s/t
48 Clarke,Simon South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
49 Christensen,Mads Barloworld @ s/t
50 Veuchulen,Frederik Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
51 Merckx,Axel Phonak iShares @ s/t
52 Steensen,Andre Denmark @ s/t
53 Vierhouten,Aart Skil-Shimano @ s/t
54 Tschopp,Johann Phonak iShares @ s/t
55 Barbe,Koen Chocolade Jacques-Topsport @ s/t
56 Gates,Nick Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
57 Cox,Ryan Barloworld @ s/t
58 Ten Dam,Laurens Unibet.com @ s/t
59 Astarloa,Igor Barloworld @ s/t
60 Boonen,Tom QuickStep-Innergetic @ s/t
61 Priamo,Matteo Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ s/t
62 Lloyd,Mathew South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
63 McCarty,Patrick Phonak iShares @ s/t
64 Degano,Enrico Barloworld @ s/t
65 Goesinnen,Floris Skil-Shimano @ s/t
66 Weissinger,Rene Skil-Shimano @ s/t
67 Coutts,Alex DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
68 Meadley,James South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
69 Lancaster,Brett Ceramica Panaria-Navigare @ s/t
70 Jorgensen,Casper Denmark @ s/t
71 Van Bon,Leon Davitamon Lotto @ s/t
72 Newton,Christopher Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
73 Kessler,Matthias T-Mobile @ s/t
74 Sharman,Robin Recycling.co.uk @ s/t
75 Hunt,Jeremy Unibet.com @ 05'37"
76 Higgerson,Shaun South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
77 Barras,Tom DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed @ s/t
78 Clarke,Jonathon South Australia.com-AIS @ s/t
General Classification & other competitions >>>>