Groenewegen wins Tour de Yorkshire opener

Image 1 of 17

Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) claimed a repeat sprint victory on the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, netting the race's first leader's jersey for the second year in a row.

The Dutch champion powered to the line, fending off a late challenge from Orica-Scott's Caleb Ewan, with Bike Channel-Canyon's Chris Opie taking a surprise third in the sprint ahead of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).

With 30 kilometres to go, it looked as if Groenewegen was out of contention when the final climb to Robin Hood's Bay split the peloton into pieces. But the Dutchman wasn't the only sprinter caught out, and his LottoNL team, Orica and Cofidis worked together to bring the race back together.

"We knew the last climb was very hard, but the team were ready to bring me back so I could sprint for the win," Groenewegen said. "It was a good choice, and a good day."

The stage was marred by a massive crash behind the stage winners, with Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica) touching wheels and taking out Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin). Others such as Russ Downing (JTL Condor) and Yoeri Havik (Team Raleigh GAC) couldn't avoid the fallen riders and dozens hit the deck in Scarborough.

How it unfolded

It took some time for the breakaway to form on the Tour de Yorkshire's opening 174km stage from Bridlington to Scarborough, but after 15 kilometres or so the peloton let eight men forge clear, thanks to the presence of Direct Energie, the team of defending champion Thomas Voeckler, who were represented by Perrig Quéméneur (Direct Energie).

Also in the move were Kamil Gradek (ONE Pro Cycling), who won the first intermediate sprint at Pocklington, Ángel Madrazo (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), James Lowsley-Williams (Bike Channel-Canyon), Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport), Yoeri Havik (Team Raleigh-GAC), Toby Horton (Madison-Genesis) and Etienne Van Empel (Roompot), the latter of whom picked up the first mountains classification jersey, thanks to his wins at Garrowby Hill after 55 kilometres of racing and Goathland with 53 kilometres to go.

The breakaway was never allowed much more than three minutes but lingered most of the stage two minutes ahead of the field until Van Empel's charge for the Goathland climb shattered the breakaway.

Although Gradek fought his way back to the front to take the second sprint, he was soon distanced by an acceleration from Quéméneur and Dunne, along with Van Empel.

The Roompot rider managed to claw his way back to the leaders, however, and with 30 kilometres to go there were three riders away and still holding 2:18 on the bunch.

On the final climb at Robin Hood's Bay, Van Empel suffered on the steep slopes and had to let go of the leaders, and Quéméneur dashed away to take out the points as Dunne also was dropped.

Behind, Dimension Data set a furious pace in the peloton to reduce the gap, but it was Sunweb who put the cat amongst the pigeons as the bunch reached Robin Hood's Bay, with Soren Kragh Andersen going on the attack. The pressure reeled Van Empel in and reduced Quéméneur's lead to one minute.

The effort also split the peloton into three groups, with sprinters Adam Blythe, Dylan Groenewegen, Caleb Ewan and Nacer Bouhanni being left behind and having to burn important matches to chase back, which they did with 14.5 kilometres to go.

The peloton took their time picking up the two leaders, with Orica-Scott's Svein Tuft finally reeling them in with just 8.3 kilometres to go.

Cofidis had confidence in Bouhanni, taking charge of the pace with five kilometres to go, but were fought back by Team Sky and Orica-Scott.

The defending champion tried an attack on a rise with 3.6 kilometres to go, but Sky quickly shut down the Frenchman before being swamped on the technical run-in by Orica.

Cofidis re-found the front heading into the final kilometre, but an easing of the pace heading into the uphill rise to the line swamped the lead outs and in the chaos, a touch of wheels brought down a number of riders.

But the sprint had already opened up, and it was Groenewegen who muscled his way to the win just ahead of Ewan.

Full Results