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Tour of Britain - 2.1

Great Britain, August 29-September 3, 2006

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Stage 1 - August 29: Glasgow to Castle Douglas, 162km

Pedersen takes the Tour of Britain opening stage

Martin Pedersen
Photo ©: Gerry McManus
(Click for larger image)

Denmark’s Martin Pedersen (CSC) won the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Castle Douglas on Tuesday 29th August. Pedersen out sprinted his breakaway companions Luis Passamontes (Unibet.com) and Mathew Goss (South Australia.com-AIS) after four hours of racing over the Scottish countryside. The trio were still together on the top of the climb at Shiel Hill and battled together to hold onto the lead that had been over 10 minutes on the road at around half distance. When they rounded the final corner it was Pedersen that had the strength to win the gallop on the uphill drag in front of hundreds of spectators lining the last 300 metres.

Pedersen’s 10 second time bonus gained from the stage win saw him take the leaders yellow jersey with a margin of just two seconds over Goss who had won all three hot spot sprints on the day.

The trio’s break had gone early as the race left Glasgow and the riders had done only around 15-miles of riding. Passamontes had attacked on a small drag with the peloton reacting only briefly moving into echelons to make set the chase but sat up with only Pedersen and Goss making it across. The bunch showed little interest in chasing and when they reached the top of the climb at Kyle Forest the temperature had dropped and the rain came down to dampen their enthusiasm further. But as the weather warmed up again a few miles later and the riders removed their rain capes, the Barloworld team livened things up with a surge of speed that caused a split.

11 riders had gone 20 seconds clear including Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step – Innergetic), Karsten Kroon (CSC), Frederik Willems (Chocolade Jaques), Ian Stannard (GB), Piet Rooijakkers (Skil Shimano) and Matteo Piramo (Ceramica Panaria – Navigare). Another four were chasing including Rob Partridge (Recycling.co.uk) and Jean-Claude Lebeau (Landbouwkredit-Colnago).

Luis Pasamontes
Photo ©: Gerry McManus
(Click for larger image)

Both groups were mopped up as the main field put the hammer down to reduce the leaders winning margin. This year the big teams were not about to make the mistake of last year when the break had built an unassailable race winning margin of 28 minutes but they left it too late to alter today's podium places finishing 2’36” behind.

Quick Step took fourth and fifth places via the bunch sprint with Francesco, Chicchi beating Filippo Pozzato. Russell Downing ( DFL Cyclingnews-Litespeed) came home in sixth place to keep British hopes up for a possible stage win later in the week.

“I was pleased to get into the break really early,” said Pederson. “All three of us worked really hard. When we built the lead up to 10’ 40’ we realised we had a chance of winning the stage. We were getting time checks from the manager and we knew the gap was coming down but I was feeling really good and I was determined to try to take the stage win. It’s a great performance for me and the team. I am delighted to take the yellow jersey and we will be very keen to keep it for the rest of the week.”

Mathew Goss was a little disappointed not to win the stage. “ I did get caught out a little in the sprint today. I went with about 200 metres to go and the uphill caught me after being in front for 160km and my legs were tired. I am still happy as it’s still a good result for me. I was surprised how big the time gap was. With 80km to go I thought they might still bring us back but we still had 10 minutes with 50km to go and I knew we had a chance. My main objective is to try to get another stage result but I will see how it goes with the overall. Winning the GC might be a little bit hard for me.”

GB team leader Roger Hammond explained what happened in the bunch. “To be honest the chase was non existent. Everyone was leaving it to everyone else. Quick Step starting chasing but nobody else helped them so they just stopped. The two Barloworld guys slipped off the front by 10m and got away and another 9 got across and bunch really started chasing. As soon as we caught the 11 we stopped chasing again but we had taken back four minutes in that 20km stretch. It was a bizarre day really. We have three 18-year-olds in our team and we didn’t think it was up to us to chase on the first day and obviously a lot of other teams were thinking the same thing.”

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

  • The main field rolls out from Glasgow at the start of the race
  • Martin Pedersen (CSC) wins the stage frtom Luis Pasamontes (Unibet) and Mathew Goss (South
  • Andreas Kloden (T Mobile) wears number 11 on his back that he changed to for supertitious reasons but the frame still has the original 13 that he was allocated.
  • The peloton heads though Muirkirk on their way to the finish at Castle Douglas
  • World champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step - Innergetic) sporting the champions rainbow jersey takes to the front of the idling bunch
  • Stage winner Martin Pederson (CSC) leads Luis Pasaontes (Unibet.com) and Mathew Goss (South Australia.com-AIS) in the race winning break
  • Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com), Mathew Goss (South Australia.com-AIS) and Martin Pederson (CSC) in the race winning break
  • Luis Pasaontes (Unibet.com), Mathew Goss (South Australia.com-AIS) and Martin Pederson (CSC) in the race winning break
  • Martin Pederson (CSC) climbs to the top of ascent at Kyle Forest with a 10 minute lead on the peloton
  • Stage winner Martin Pederson with the winners trophy
  • Stage winner Martin Pederson (CSC) sprays the champagne after his victory also gave him the yellow jersey
  • Luis Passamontes (Unibet.com) with the points jersey after stage one
  • World Champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step - Innergetic) heads out from Glasgow with the main field
  • Britain's Mark Cavendish on a trial with the T Mobile team on the Tour of Britain
  • All smiles for the T Mobile team at the start of the event
  • Milan San Remo winner Filippo Pozzato (Quick Step - Innergetic) enjoys Glasgow sunshine at the start
  • Former British champion and stage winner into Blackpool, Roger Hammond heads back to the peleton through the race convoy
  • No time to see the view for the main field on stage one on Scotland
  • New kid on the block - New DFL-Cyclingnews Director Sportif Eric Vanderaerden on the Tour

Images by Richard O'Brien

Results

1 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                           4.03.38
2 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                           
3 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                  
4 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) QuickStep-Innergetic           2.36
5 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) QuickStep-Innergetic                 
6 Russell Downing (GBr) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed           
7 Mark Cavendish (GBr) T-Mobile                              
8 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago          
9 Alex Rasmussen (Den) Denmark                               
10 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com                              
11 Roger Hammond (GBr) Great Britain                         
12 Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld                            
13 Luke Roberts (Aus) CSC                                    
14 Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Barloworld                            
15 Nick Nuyens (Bel) QuickStep-Innergetic                    
16 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                       
17 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Unibet.com                              
18 Evan Oliphant (GBr) Recycling.co.uk                       
19 Michael Morkov (Den) Denmark                              
20 Nico Mattan (Bel) Davitamon Lotto                         
21 Frederik Veuchulen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport       
22 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil-Shimano                     
23 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago               
24 Kenny Lisabeth (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport           
25 Dean Downing (GBr) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed             
26 Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld                              
27 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport         
28 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC                                      
29 Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare      
30 Karsten Kroon (Ned) CSC                                   
31 Kristan House (GBr) Recycling.co.uk                       
32 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com                              
33 Joeri Clauwaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago             
34 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile                           
35 Olaf Pollack (Ger) T-Mobile                               
36 Christian Vandevelde (USA) CSC                            
37 Koen Barbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport               
38 Tom Barras (GBr) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed               
39 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Unibet.com                          
40 Bert Roesems (Bel) Davitamon Lotto                        
41 Cameron Jennings (Aus) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed         
42 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Barloworld                            
43 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon Lotto                  
44 Paride Grillo (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare             
45 Rob Partridge (GBr) Recycling.co.uk                       
46 Robin Sharman (GBr) Recycling.co.uk                       
47 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                
48 Ben Greenwood (GBr) Recycling.co.uk                       
49 Iljo Keisse (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport              
50 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare           
51 Andre Steensen (Den) Denmark                              
52 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                             
53 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS               
54 Matteo Priamo (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare             
55 Edward Clancy (GBr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago               
56 Mirko Allegrini (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare           
57 Jean Claude Lebeau (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago          
58 Andy Schleck (Lux) CSC                                    
59 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak iShares                          
60 Tom Boonen (Bel) QuickStep-Innergetic                     
61 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak iShares                      
62 Mathew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                
63 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon Lotto                          
64 Ryan Cox (RSA) Barloworld                                 
65 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) QuickStep-Innergetic             
66 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com                          
67 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano                        
68 Patrick McCarty (USA) Phonak iShares                      
69 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Phonak iShares                       
70 Alex Coutts (GBr) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed              
71 Aitor Galdos (Spa) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare              
72 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                       
73 Paul Manning (GBr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                
74 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Great Britain                        
75 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile                           
76 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS             
77 Ian Stannard (GBr) Great Britain                          
78 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak iShares                        
79 Mads Christensen (Den) Barloworld                         
80 Casper Jorgensen (Den) Denmark                        3.00
81 Ben Swift (GBr) Great Britain                         3.22
82 Andrew Tennant (GBr) Great Britain                        
83 Ross Sander (GBr) Great Britain                       4.00
84 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS         4.41
85 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) QuickStep-Innergetic         6.18
86 Kane Oakley (Aus) DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed          6.31
87 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon Lotto                        
88 Christopher Newton (GBr) Recycling.co.uk              7.50
89 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon Lotto                 8.02
90 Rene Weissinger (Ger) Skil-Shimano                    9.11
91 Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Skil-Shimano                        
92 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport    9.45
93 Daniel Kreutzfeldt (Den) Denmark                     10.42
 
Sprints
 
Cumnock, 55km
1 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 5 pts
2 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 3
3 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          2
4 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport        1
 
Kyle Forest, 71.6km
1 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          4 pts
2 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 3
3 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 2
4 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) QuickStep-Innergetic             1
 
New Galloway, 115.3km
1 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 5 pts
2 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          3
3 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 2
4 Karsten Kroon (Ned) CSC                                   1
 
Kirkcudbright, 144.9km
1 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 5 pts
2 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 3
3 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          2
4 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                       1
 
Mountains
 
Shiel Hill, 101.5km
1 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 4 pts
2 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 3
3 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          2
4 Ryan Cox (RSA) Barloworld                                 1
 
Lochfergus, 148.8km
1 Martin Pedersen (Den) CSC                                 4 pts
2 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                          3
3 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                 2
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) QuickStep-Innergetic                1
 
Most combativite
 
1 Mathew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS                  
 
Teams
 
1 Unibet.com                                         12.16.06
2 CSC                                                        
3 South Australia.com-AIS                                    
4 QuickStep-Innergetic                                   2.36
5 Barloworld                                                 
6 Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                                    
7 DFL-Cycling News-Litespeed                                 
8 Chocolade Jacques-Topsport                                 
9 T-Mobile                                                   
10 Denmark                                                   
11 Recycling.co.uk                                           
12 Davitamon Lotto                                           
13 Skil-Shimano                                              
14 Ceramica Panaria-Navigare                                 
15 Great Britain                                             
16 Phonak iShares                                            

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