The 2007 Tour of Britain

 

9-15th September, 2007

2007 Tour of Britain Report (Home Page)

 

Prologue Crystal Palace | 9th, Sept.

 

T-Mobile’s British sprint sensation Mark Cavendish won the opening Prologue time trial of the 2007 Tour of Britain at Crystal Palace this afternoon with a stunning lap of the 2.5km course which saw him finish over a second ahead of the next closest rider.

 

The win takes to nine Cavendish’s total of stage victories in this his debut season as a professional with the T-Mobile Team, one more than the mark set by sprint legend Robbie McEwen in his first season as a Pro. The Manxman will go into tomorrow’s stage from Reading to Southampton as the first Britain to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour of Britain since the race was revived in 2004.

 

Having undergone surgery to remove a painful wisdom tooth last week, there were mixed expectations for the British sprinter who is not known as a time trial specialist, but his background as track racer clearly paid dividends on the short Crystal Palace course. He will now go into the longer stages with huge confidence and will be looking to take his number of season victories into double figures in the group sprints.

 

This is the first time that a British rider has won the yellow jersey. In a clean sweep of the jersey competitions, Mark also won the E.ON King of the Mountain’s jersey by being the fastest rider to the high point of the 2.5km circuit. The race was a close run thing with Nikolai Tusov and Alexander Serov from the Tinkoff Credit Systems recording times of 02’28.82” and 02’31.24” respectively, holding poll position on the Leader Board for some time. In a great day for home grown talent, there were four British riders within the top ten namely Geraint Thomas (Barloworld), Ed Clancy (Team GB) and Chris Newton (Recycling.com).

 

Tomorrow’s stage, which is supported by the South-East England Development Agency (SEEDA), starts at the Palmer Park velodrome at 10.30. The route travels via Pamber Heath (the first Sprint stage) to Whitehill, which is the first E.ON King of the Mountains hill climb, to the scenic area that provided the inspiration for Richard Adam’s novel Watership Down. The route then goes to Stockbridge for the second Sprint stage and then follows the River Test valley to Kimbridge where the second E.ON Kind of the Mountains starts. The route then travels through the scenic New Forest before entering Southampton and finishing at Hoglands Park. The riders are anticipated to arrive in Southampton at approximately 2pm.

 

 

Reaction: Mark Cavendish "I was surprised by that. I come here and thought maybe I could do something in the prologue and coming from a track background, it was not a complete shock that I won a 2.5k prologue. When I crossed the line, I didn't think that I had done that good and when I came into the car park, they said to me you have the fastest time."

 

"May be if the time trial had been a bit longer, Frankie (Rabon) may have won it as he's a specialist. When his time got beaten, the pressure was on me. I went full out but I was dissapointed I didn't  do the first half faster but maybe that paid off on the second half and on the climb."

 

On the yellow jersey, he said "the time differences are small, and i was thinking before that if I could do a could TT here I could win a stage tomorrow and get the yellow so to get it a day early, I am very proud. The most surprising thing is the Polka Dot, I think its the first one I have ever worn."

 

Pressure: "I think it has actually added more pressure because not I am only two off my target and one off double figures. So I think I'll be putting pressure on myself to get two more wins this season. Tomorrow should be a bunch sprint but like I said yesterday, there are some good sprinters here."

"To come here with so many people supporting me I owed them a win." On there being four Brits in the top 10, he says "It's briilliant. They are the track riders for Beijing next year so it bodes well. I know Ed was preparing specially for this time trial and it is nice to see him get a good result."

 

"The noise at the start from the crowd wasn't distracting. People say when you get that support it adds a little bit, but for me it doesn't add just a little bit but another 100 per cent. All the way round I could here people shouting. Like I said at the prologue at the Tour (de France), when you feel that lactic in your legs and you hear that shouting, you don't want to dissapoint them by slowing down.

 

Mark wasn't making any predictions on the overall as he hasn't been able to train properly because of his wisdom tooth problem that is now okay since it was removed.

 

First Photos: Galleries will follow after the Tour of Britain.

 

Left: Paul Manning and right, Ian Stannard.

 

Geraint Thomas rode a brilliant time trial, moving into second place at one point. Ed Clancy was looking for a good ride and he finished in the top 10.

 

Chris Newton showed good form by making the top 10 too. Right: Daniel Lloyd is 9 seconds off the lead after the prologue.

 

Left: Kristian House and right, Mark Cavendish.

 

Left: With family watching, Alex Dowsett was first off and held the lead for quite a while before finishing with a time good enough for 27th place. Right: Ben Swift followed Alex off the ramp and his time had him in 51st place.

 

Left: Andy Tennant, Right, Roger Hammond.

 

Tour de France stage winner Linus Gerdemann signs autographs before his ride.

 

Last years overall winner Martin Pederson crosses the line last and fails to stop Mark Cavendish from taking the first yellow jersey.

Problem for James McCallum puts him into last place. Photo Belinda Sinclair.

 

Result
1. Cavendish,Mark TMO T- Mobile 02'27.61"  
2. Trusov,Nikolai TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'28.82" @01.21"
3. Serov,Alexander TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'31.24" @03.63"
4. Dempster,Zakkari AIS South Australia.com-AIS 02'31.46" @03.85"
5. Roberts,Luke CSC CSC 02'31.85" @04.24"
6. Rabon,Frantisek TMO T- Mobile 02'32.03" @04.42"
7. Thomas,Geraint BAR Barloworld 02'32.17" @04.56"
8. Clancy,Edward GBR Great Britain 02'33.38" @05.77"
9. Newton,Christopher RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'33.52" @05.91"
10. Berges,Emilien AGR Agritubel 02'33.94" @06.33"
11. Hunter,Robert BAR Barloworld 02'34.18" @06.57"
12. Veelers,Tom RB3 Rabobank 02'34.83" @07.22"
13. Contrini,Daniele TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'34.91" @07.30"
14. Blanco Rodriguez,David DUJ Duja Tavira 02'34.95" @07.34"
15. Feillu,Romain AGR Agritubel 02'35.14" @07.53"
16. Tennant,Andrew GBR Great Britain 02'35.18" @07.57"
17. Vermelfoort,Coen RB3 Rabobank 02'35.20" @07.59"
18. Commesso,Salvatore TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'35.35" @07.74"
19. Rooijakkers,Piet SKS Skil-Shimano 02'35.36" @07.75"
20. Goss,Mathew CSC CSC 02'35.41" @07.80"
21. Garrido,Martin DUJ Duja Tavira 02'35.42" @07.81"
22. Bates,Gene AIS South Australia.com-AIS 02'35.67" @08.06"
23. Manning,Paul GBR Great Britain 02'35.88" @08.27"
24. Clarke,Simon AIS South Australia.com-AIS 02'36.01" @08.40"
25. Tjallingii,Maarten SKS Skil-Shimano 02'36.42" @08.81"
26. Lloyd,Daniel DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'36.55" @08.94"
27. Dowsett,Alex GBR Great Britain 02'36.80" @09.19"
28. Vogondy,Nicolas AGR Agritubel 02'36.84" @09.23"
29. Lloret,Manuel FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'37.02" @09.41"
30. Vierhouten,Aart SKS Skil-Shimano 02'37.16" @09.55"
31. Bellis,John GBR Great Britain 02'37.20" @09.59"
32. Knaven,Servais TMO T- Mobile 02'37.34" @09.73"
33. Riccio,Bernardo TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'37.38" @09.77"
34. Sulzberger,Wesley AIS South Australia.com-AIS 02'37.66" @10.05"
35. Caldeira,Samuel DUJ Duja Tavira 02'37.71" @10.10"
36. Gibb,Tony PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 02'38.05" @10.44"
37. Munoz Banon,David FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'38.30" @10.69"
38. Berkhout,Thomas RB3 Rabobank 02'38.39" @10.78"
39. Walker,Johnnie AIS South Australia.com-AIS 02'38.94" @11.33"
40. Mattan,Nico DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'39.24" @11.63"
41. Keizer,Martijn RB3 Rabobank 02'39.40" @11.79"
42. Millard,James PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 02'39.58" @11.97"
43. Gerdemann,Linus TMO T- Mobile 02'39.69" @12.08"
44. Sneeboer,Paul DUJ Duja Tavira 02'39.73" @12.12"
45. Bernabeu,Vicente FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'39.78" @12.17"
46. Haedo,Juan Jose CSC CSC 02'39.95" @12.34"
47. Hampton,Russell GBR Great Britain 02'40.06" @12.45"
48. Oliphant,Evan DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'40.14" @12.53"
49. Hammond,Roger TMO T- Mobile 02'40.24" @12.63"
50. Maaskant,Martijn RB3 Rabobank 02'40.34" @12.73"
51. Swift,Ben BAR Barloworld 02'40.51" @12.90"
52. Stannard,Ian TMO T- Mobile 02'40.58" @12.97"
53. Bonilla,José Adrian FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'40.77" @13.16"
54. Van Poppel,Boy RB3 Rabobank 02'40.81" @13.20"
55. Pauwels,Serge JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'40.93" @13.32"
56. Dekkers,Hans AGR Agritubel 02'41.16" @13.55"
57. Bak,Lars Ytting CSC CSC 02'41.18" @13.57"
58. Degano,Enrico BAR Barloworld 02'41.18" @ s/t
59. Van Heerden,Christoff KON Team Konica Minolta 02'41.30" @13.69"
60. Deroo,David SKS Skil-Shimano 02'41.61" @14.00"
61. Palomares,Adrian FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'41.63" @14.02"
62. Aggiano,Elia TCS Tinkoff Credit Systems 02'41.98" @14.37"
63. De Ketele,Kenny JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'41.98" @ s/t
64. Pedersen,Martin CSC CSC 02'42.02" @14.41"
65. McCauley,Gordon PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 02'42.44" @14.83"
66. Verbist,Evert JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'42.80" @15.19"
67. Caethoven,Steven JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'42.88" @15.27"
68. Caccia,Diego BAR Barloworld 02'43.14" @15.53"
69. Froome,Christopher KON Team Konica Minolta 02'43.14" @ s/t
70. Bichot,Freddy AGR Agritubel 02'43.21" @15.60"
71. Gaywood,Simon PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 02'43.40" @15.79"
72. House,Kristan NAV Navigators Insurance 02'43.65" @16.04"
73. Goesinnen,Floris SKS Skil-Shimano 02'43.83" @16.22"
74. Bonomi,Giosuè BAR Barloworld 02'43.89" @16.28"
75. Coutouly,Cedrid AGR Agritubel 02'43.96" @16.35"
76. Haynes,Hamish DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'44.66" @17.05"
77. Stubbe,Tom JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'45.15" @17.54"
78. Lund,Anders CSC CSC 02'45.31" @17.70"
79. Victorino,Nelson DUJ Duja Tavira 02'46.29" @18.68"
80. Mestre,Ricardo DUJ Duja Tavira 02'46.58" @18.97"
81. Wolf,Micheal NAV Navigators Insurance 02'47.00" @19.39"
82. Partridge,Rob RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'47.32" @19.71"
83. Richardson,Simon PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 02'47.48" @19.87"
84. Vanmuysen,Roel NAV Navigators Insurance 02'48.10" @20.49"
85. Diggle,Tom RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'48.16" @20.55"
86. Sulzberger,Bernard DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'48.35" @20.74"
87. Allen,Travis KON Team Konica Minolta 02'48.91" @21.30"
88. Artetxte,Mikel FTV Fuerteventura-Canarias 02'48.91" @ s/t
89. Fleeman,Daniel DFL DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed 02'49.47" @21.86"
90. Green,Rodney KON Team Konica Minolta 02'49.80" @22.19"
91. Hovelijnck,Kurt JAC Chocolade Jacques-Topsport 02'50.51" @22.90"
92. De Backer,Bert NAV Navigators Insurance 02'51.58" @23.97"
93. Rodriguez,David NAV Navigators Insurance 02'51.61" @24.00"
94. Cooke,Matt NAV Navigators Insurance 02'51.96" @24.35"
95. Holt,Simon RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'52.33" @24.72"
96. Bonser,Adam RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'54.96" @27.35"
97. Van Niekerk,Dennis KON Team Konica Minolta 02'55.06" @27.45"
98. Thompson,Jay KON Team Konica Minolta 02'55.39" @27.78"
99. Bonser,Ryan RCY Recycling.co.uk 02'56.81" @29.20"
100. Van Hummel,Kenny SKS Skil-Shimano 03'14.32" @46.71"
101. McCallum,James PCA Plowman Craven-Evans Cycles 03'23.48" @55.87"

Yellow Jersey: Mark Cavendish
KOM Jersey: Mark Cavendish

 

 

SUPPORT RACES

Earlier in the day, Malcolm Elliott won the Elite Circuit Race. The race was on in a bunch sprint after all the attacks including a late one by Dean Downing and Malcolm Elliott was brought back.

 

Elliott wins another round of the Elite Circuit Series.

 

Elliott leads the race through the finish area.

 

Podium for the Elite race, Andy Tinsley (2nd), Malcolm Elliott (1st) and Warwick Spence (3rd)

 

The Elite Circuit Race Series event is waved away...

 

Left: Matt  Talbot has a go at breaking away ... right, late attack by Dean Downing and Malcolm Elliott.

 

Mark Lovatt stretches them out...

 

Go-Ride was also kept busy between races.

 

Bob Chicken London Grand Prix
1. Malcolm Elliot Pinarello
2. Andy Tinsley Bioracer Onimex RT
3. Warrick Spence Cyclefit-Serotta
4. John Mozley Merlin Racing Team
5. James Jackson PCA Ciclos Uno
6. Tom Murray Merlin \rt
7. JamesWilliams Kona UK
8. George Richardson Kona UK
9. John Tanner Sportscover
10. Mark Lovatt Sportscover
11. Alex Peterson AW Cycles
12. Ashley Brown Sportscover
13. Sam Humpheson London Dynamo
14. Ben Price Rapha Condor RT
15. Scott Bugden Corridori
16. Michael Fitzpatrick Team Stena Munster
17. Chris Tune Sigma RT
18. Paul Mill Team Edwards
19. Wayne Coombs Cheltenham & County
20. Alex Higham Rapha Condor RT
21. James Williams Kona UK

 

3rd cats
1. James Wakelin Evans RT
2.  Luke Smith Whyte Bikes
3.  Alan Parkinson SWRC
4.  Matt Spurgeon Evans RT
5.  Rune Sandbeck London Dynamo/Cyclefit
6.  Mark Parsons Dulwich Paragon
7.  Patrick Jones Dulwich Paragon
8.  Adam Roberts agiskoviner.com
9.  Jerzy Kuzminski Pearson Cycles
10. Mark Lloyd Dulwich Paragon

 

Juniors
1. Tom Skubala Cardiff Ajax
2. Anthony Lynch Team Stena Munster
3. Peter Dibben I-Team
4. Sean Doonan Team Stena Munster
5. Alex Ward Sutton CC
6. Ben Miller VC Jubilee

 

Women
1. Janet Birkmyre Planet X
2. Jo Munden VC Muedon
3. Susanah Osbourne Planet X
4. Charlotte Blackman London Dynamo
5. Marienne Britten Severn RC
6. Rachel Lee Dulwich Paragon
7. Sophie Terry VC Londres
8. Maria David Pearson Cycles
9. Lisa ScarlettTrisportnews RT