Tour of Britain 2018 Stage 1: André Greipel sprints to first leaders jersey

Tour of Britain 2018 Stage 1: André Greipel sprints to first leader’s jersey

The 1st stage of the Tour of Britain is played out on a lumpy route in Wales. The last hill is crested with 8 kilometres remaining, still the race boils down to a bunch sprint with André Greipel pipping Caleb Ewan and Fernando Gaviria. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2018 Tour of Britain

1. André Greipel (ger)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
3. Fernando Gaviria (col) s.t.
4. Gabriel Cullaigh (gbr) s.t.
5. Jürgen Roelandts (bel) s.t.
6. Andrea Pasqualon (ita) s.t.
7. Ethan Hayter (gbr) s.t.
8. Paolo Simion (ita) s.t.
9. Vincenzo Albanese (ita) s.t.
10. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.

GC after the 1st stage
1. André Greipel (ger)
2. Caleb Ewan (aus) + 0.04
3. Fernando Gaviria (col) + 0.06
4. Gabriel Cullaigh (gbr) + 0.10
5. Jürgen Roelandts (bel) s.t.
6. Andrea Pasqualon (ita) s.t.
7. Ethan Hayter (gbr) s.t.
8. Paolo Simion (ita) s.t.
9. Vincenzo Albanese (ita) s.t.
10. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.

Race report
Matthew Bostock, Nic Dlamini, Mark Downey, Thomas Moses, Rory Townsend and Richard Handley distance the peloton early on. The six put a maximum of 3 minutes into the main group.

Dlamini crests Bethlehem Hill ahead of Moses, a result the 23-year old South African repeats on the KOM to Defynnog.

Approaching the final KOM on Belmont Hill Townsend is the last remaining leader and with 10 kms to go it all comes together. Following a first move on the climb by Geraint Thomas, Julian Alaphilippe and Bob Jungels take over to go clear over the top of Belmont Hill with Jonathan Hivert and Mads Würtz Schmidt in their slipstream. Jungels pushes on alone with 4 kms out, but he is brought back before the flamme rouge.

Fernando Gaviria opens his sprint too early and both Caleb Ewan and André Greipel overhaul the Colombian. The German pips the Australian for the stage win and first leader’s jersey.