Interview – Harry Tanfield – Start Of Stage 4 – OVO Tour Of Britain 2017

Chris talks to Harry Tanfield of BIKE Channel Canyon at the beginning of Stage 4 of the OVO Tour of Britain 2017. Harry won the HIGH5 Combativity Award for stage 3 after continually animating the break.

Interview – Harry Tanfield – Start Of Stage 4 – OVO Tour Of Britain 2017 by Cycling Shorts

Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc talks to Harry Tanfield of BIKE Channel Canyon at the beginning of Stage 4 of the OVO Tour of Britain 2017. Harry won the HIGH5 Combativity Award for stage 3 after continually animating the break. All images & content ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | wwwchrismaher.co.uk

 

Image ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Caleb Ewan reclaims race lead with stage win in Scunthorpe

Caleb Ewan sprinted to his second victory of the week in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, heading home Edvald Boasson Hagen by less than a wheel width to reclaim the overall lead and the OVO Energy Green Jersey in Scunthorpe.

The Orica Scott rider followed up his opening day win in Kelso by out sprinting Boasson Hagen and European Champion Alexander Kristoff, to move six seconds ahead of overnight leader Elia Viviani who finished seventh in the bunch sprint.

The bunch brought back the remains of the day’s breakaway with around 15-kilometres of racing to go, with Philippe Gilbert then causing panic among the sprinters teams by jumping clear on the drag up to the line.

Interview – Caleb Ewan – Stage 3 Winner – OVO Tour of Britain 2017 by Cycling Shorts

The media speak to Caleb Ewan after he storms to another stage win in the OVO Tour of Britain 2017 and takes control of GC. All content & Images ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

Today was a tough day obviously with the weather, [said Ewan after the rainy conditions that swept the North Lincolnshire leg of the Tour]. So it wasn’t as straight forward as we would have hoped and I think it made it a bit harder.

We had to sit at the front all day, taking a bit of the wind and then with the hill coming up close to the finish line that made it a bit tricky as well.

After Gilbert went, I was pretty confident in Luka Mezgec, he knows what he is doing so I could just follow him. He had to go pretty much full gas as soon as he started the lead out so that made it harder for me as well.

To be honest, I was on his wheel and pretty pinned. As soon as he swung off I just gave it my all and did a big lunge for the line and luckily I just got the win ahead of Eddie.

Caleb Ewan

Winner Stage 3 - OVO Tour of Britain, Orica Scott

As well as win number two Ewan moves back into the lead of the Wiggle Points Jersey, five points ahead of Viviani.

For full results and standings from Stage Three, please click here.

It was also a brilliant day for Team JLT Condor who managed to get two riders, Graham Briggs and Ian Bibby, in the five-rider breakaway. The duo worked brilliantly together to make sure that between them they took maximum points in all of the day’s intermediate competitions, resulting in Briggs picking up the Eisberg Sprints and SKODA King of the Mountains jerseys.

A terrific day for the team was capped off by Australian sprinter Brenton Jones taking fourth place on the stage overall.

Elsewhere, BIKE Channel Canyon’s Harry Tanfield was awarded the HIGH5 Combativity Award for the day after continually animating the break.

Stage Four of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain takes place in Nottinghamshire with the county hosting its first full stage.  The stage begins in Mansfield town centre at 11:00 with live coverage on ITV4 from 10.45am, with the finish alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent after 164-kilometres of racing.
 
Highlights from the third stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will be on ITV4 at 8pm on Tuesday evening (5 September) with a repeat the following morning.

 

Stage Four Wednesday 6 September Mansfield to Newark-on-Trent 165km
Stage Five Thursday 7 September The Tendring Stage Individual Time Trial 16km
Stage Six Friday 8 September Newmarket to Aldeburgh 187km
Stage Seven Saturday 9 September Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham 185km
Stage Eight Sunday 10 September Worcester to Cardiff 180km
Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Elia Viviani takes OVO Energy Tour of Britain lead in Blyth

Elia Viviani took his fifth stage win in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, but not without controversy as Edvald Boasson Hagen was initially declared the winner, before being disqualified for deviating in the sprint.

Viviani had crossed the line second behind the Norwegian, but Sky lodged a protest after the Dimension Data rider moved to his left in the sprint and was adjudged by the race jury to have impeded the Italian.

Following much deliberation, and Boasson Hagen initially appearing on the podium, the decision was overturned with him being relegated to the back of the main field and the victory, and OVO Energy Green Jersey going to Viviani.

Interview – Elia Viviani Stage 2 Winner – OVO Tour Of Britain 2017 by Cycling Shorts

The media speak to Elia Viviani after he is awarded the stage two win after Edvald Boasson Hagen was disqualified for deviating from his sprint line. OVO Tour of Britain 2017. All content & images ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Boasson Hagen was conciliatory after the finish, acknowledging that he had unintentionally moved across on the run to the line in Blyth.

I know that I closed in Viviani but it wasn’t on purpose”, he said. “I was just sprinting for the line with my head down and when I looked up, I was too close on the left side with Viviani on my inside. It’s really a pity after all the hard work the guys did today. However, we will keep fighting and try to go for it again tomorrow.

Edvald Boasson Hagen

Rider, Team Dimension Data

I was feeling really good yesterday, but I was disappointed as the guys did a perfect job yesterday on a very technical finish and I finished only third,

I really wanted to win today and we did a really good leadout with Kwiato, Kiry, G and Tao – who worked all day. Owain put me on Boasson Hagen’s wheel in the final which was perfect and what we talked about this morning in our meeting, to be in second or third place going into the sprint.

All the team deserve this win and I hope to win again in the next few days too.

Elia Viviani

Winner Stage 2 - OVO Tour of Britain 2017, Team Sky

Interview – Edvald Boassan Hagen Stage 2 – OVO Tour Of Britain 2017 by Cycling Shorts

After an initial controversial stage win Edvald Boasson Hagen talks to the media about his disqualification for deviating from his sprint line against Elia Viviani in the OVO Tour of Britain 2017. All images & content ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Behind Boasson Hagen, Dylan Groenewegen took second place, with Fernando Gaviria in third.

Viviani now leads the OVO Energy Tour of Britain by four seconds from Stage One winner Caleb Ewan, with Boasson Hagen a further three seconds in arrears before Karol Domagalski and Silvan Dillier each an additional second back.

For full results and standings from Stage Three, please click here.

Once again the day’s racing was shaped by a breakaway group, this time of seven riders, with Madison Genesis’ Matt Holmes initiating the action straight away at the 0km mark, once the race had rolled away from the spectacular location of Kielder Water

Among the riders joining Holmes were two of Stage One’s escapees, Lukasz Owsain and Jacob Scott, with the pair ending the day tied on points for the SKODA King of the Mountains classification, but the jersey changing hands from the former to the latter at the day’s end.

Graham Briggs used the opportunity of another day in the break to pick up points at each of the three intermediate Eisberg Sprints, drawing him level with jersey wearer Domagalski going into day three.

Having started the attacks in the Northumberland National Park, once the race was heading down the counties coastline into Blyth it was Holmes again who put in numerous attempts to get away, as the peloton bore down on them.  The Madison Genesis man went clear as they made their first passage of the line in Blyth, and held on as far as the Eisberg Sprint in Seaton Sluice before being caught.

At that instant Quick-Step Floors’ Philippe Gilbert took up the reigns, threatening to hold off the peloton on the run back to Blyth, but was reeled in by the Sky and Dimension Data led peloton to set up the thrilling, but controversial sprint to the line.

Vivani has now taken five stage wins in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain since 2013, while Boasson Hagen – despite winning the race overall in 2015 – hasn’t won a stage since his previous overall victory in 2009.

 

Stage Three of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain takes place in North Lincolnshire with the race returning to the area for the first time since 2009, with the race going from Normanby Hall Country Park to Scunthorpe.  Racing begins at 11:00, with live coverage on ITV4 from 10.45am.

Stage Three Tuesday 5 September Normanby Hall Country Park to Scunthorpe 178km
Stage Four Wednesday 6 September Mansfield to Newark-on-Trent 165km
Stage Five Thursday 7 September The Tendring Stage Individual Time Trial 16km
Stage Six Friday 8 September Newmarket to Aldeburgh 187km
Stage Seven Saturday 9 September Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham 185km
Stage Eight Sunday 10 September Worcester to Cardiff 180km
Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Caleb Ewan wins opening stage of OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Caleb Ewan started the 2017 OVO Energy Tour of Britain off where he ended the previous edition, standing atop the podium as a stage winner, having taken the victory at the end of the 190-kilometre opening leg between Edinburgh and Kelso in the Scottish Borders.

The 23-year-old Australian rounded out the 2016 edition with the stage win in London, and starts this year’s edition with victory on day one in Kelso’s Market Square, and with it the first OVO Energy Green Jersey of the race, plus the Wiggle Points Jersey.

Ewan outsprinted Edvald Boasson Hagen, Elia Viviani and Alexander Kristoff in a blanket finish across the first four riders.

When I crossed the line I was pretty confident that I got it”, said Ewan speaking afterwards.  “I know it was pretty close, but I thought I had got it. Then I saw all the cameras go around Eddy and I thought hang on a minute. When it is that close you just don’t know, and I saw Viviani as well round the outside. I was definitely happy to learn that I had won.

It was a pretty tricky finish, because of that tight corner, and obviously the cobblestones at the finish. We definitely wanted to be in front when the cobbles started. Luka had to get me out in front with about 200m to go. Because of the six men teams, you can’t go too early, because you will just run out of guys.

The boys did very well, I can’t complain about the lead out. I just had to sit there and get taken through the tricky parts.

Caleb Ewan

Winner Stage 1 - OVO Tour of Britain, Orica-Scott

The stage win and time bonus gives Ewan a three-second lead over Boasson Hagen – who picked up one-second at the day’s final intermediate Eisberg Sprint in Melrose – with ONE Pro Cycling’s Karol Domagalski a further second behind.

The Pole had been part of an eight-rider break – surviving a brush with the Madison Genesis team car – before striking out with compatriot Lukasz Oswain as the break were reeled in.  The pair were caught at the foot of the final SKODA King of the Mountains climb of the Eildon Hills, but Domagalski had done enough to claim the Eisberg Sprints Jersey, with Oswain taking the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey after Stage One.

Full results and standings from Stage One of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain can be found here.

Stage Two of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain takes place in Northumberland, resuming from Kielder Water and Forest Park at 10:15, with live coverage on ITV4 from 10am.  The stage finishes in Blyth on the Northumberland coast, where Fernando Gaviria won in 2015.

Highlights from the opening Scottish stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will be on ITV4 at 10pm on Sunday evening (3 September) with a repeat the following morning.

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their door step, taking place between Sunday 3 and Sunday 10 September 2017.

Interview – Stage 1 Winner – Caleb Ewan – OVO Tour of Britain 2017 by Cycling Shorts

Caleb Ewan of Team Orica-Scott talks to the media after winning Stage 1 in the OVO Tour of Britain 2017. All content & images ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

Stage Two Monday 4 September Kielder Water & Forest Park to Blyth 211km
Stage Three Tuesday 5 September Normanby Hall Country Park to Scunthorpe 178km
Stage Four Wednesday 6 September Mansfield to Newark-on-Trent 165km
Stage Five Thursday 7 September The Tendring Stage Individual Time Trial 16km
Stage Six Friday 8 September Newmarket to Aldeburgh 187km
Stage Seven Saturday 9 September Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham 185km
Stage Eight Sunday 10 September Worcester to Cardiff 180km
Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

OVO Energy Tour of Britain 2017 Pre Race Press Conference

With 120 riders confirmed for this years eight stage race. The OVO Energy Tour of Britain gets underway in Edinburgh, Scotland tomorrow morning at 1030am before meandering down the East-Side of the country and concluding in Cardiff, Wales on Sunday 10th September.

Beamed Live on ITV4 television for the first time with an estimated audience of eight-million, the highlights package later in the evening will be broadcast to a 125 countries.

Mark Cavendish, Dimension Data, Dan Martin of Quickstep Floors and Geraint Thomas of Team Sky are all still recovering from injuries and realistic about their race prospects.

To have Tyler, Dan, Mark, Geraint, Alex and Caleb here at the Press Conference for me is thrilling. I don’t think we have had such a stellar line up. We have three former World Champions, Six Olympians, Twenty-four stage winner from Grand Tours and countless World, European and National Champions and I’m absolutely delighted.

Mick Bennett

Race Director, Tour of Britain

I have to be realistic, I’m not a machine. I’m not looking for any results here. Team Dimension Data can get results here.

I’m a long-time supporter of the Tour of Britain and as a massive fan of the British fans, the support we have here – to see it grow over the last – more than a decade doing this, is phenomenal.

I had to miss RideLondon because of my injuries. To get here and race at home is  always’s something special. So I wanted to at least try, come out, experience and absorb the atmosphere that’s around the Tour of Britain nowerdays.

Mark Cavendish

Rider, Team Dimension Data

I’ve been back on the bike a couple of weeks now. Just looking forward to the race now – Cav was saying – the crowds and stuff are just unbelievable these days, to see how far it’s come.

The first time I did it was with Cav back in 2005, so yeh, it’s a bit different today.

We’ve got Viviani (Elia) for the Sprints – there’s a lot of Sprinters here, so yeh, It should be exciting.

Geraint Thomas

Rider, Team Sky

I feel fine, I feel good. I had to lay off after the Tour. I’ve only been back on the bike two-and-half to three weeks now, getting going again.

I’ve got a really strong Team here. I don’t know where I’ll be as far as ambitions. The course is really flat this year. As far as the Teams ambitions go, we can be optimistic, aim high and I’ll be part of that.

Dan Martin

Rider, Quickstep Floors

There are a lot of Sprinters and Time Trialists here at the Tour of Britain.

The Time Trial on stage 5 is definitely an objective for both myself an Ryan Mullen who’s been targeting this race for a while. For me presonnally, it’s one of my favourite races on the calendar, so I always look forward to coming to the Tour of Britain.

Taylor Phinney

Rider, Cannondale- Drapac

I think my form is all right. It’s been a long season up and till now. I started early in Australia. I’ve had a good break and a really good year, hopefully my form has come on well for this race.

Caleb Ewan

Winner in London 2016, Orica-Scott

The Time Trial roads you must know quite well? “ Yeh, it’s close to home. I’ll have lots of friends and family out, which will be good. I went and looked at the course the other week. It’s nice, a good one for me.

Alex Dowsett

Rider, Movistar Team

OVO Tour of Britain 2017 Pre Race Press Conference by Cycling Shorts

OVO Tour of Britain 2017 Pre Race Press Conference with Race Director Mick Bennett and riders; Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Dan Martin, Alex Dowsett, Taylor Phinney & Caleb Ewan. All images & content ©www.cyclingshorts.cc & www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Tour de France: More Than Just a Race

The Tour de France is not just a bike race, it is a major cultural event that grips its audience the world over. Broadcast in 190 countries across the globe, it provides nail-biting viewing and the chance to witness supreme endurance athletes showcasing their extreme physical and mental strength.

This year’s course was 3,540 kilometres across Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France: starting in Dusseldorf and ended in Paris, but having squeezed in a stage in the Pyrenees and sandwiched between two Alpine stages – all bookended by time trials. This race was not for the faint hearted.

The Tour de France is the world’s largest spectator sport event with expectations of 12 million spectators supporting riders along the route, even in the most remote of locations, the die-hard fans can be seen. With the now legendary caravan of advertisers heading the race throwing gifts, the spectators are almost as central to the race as the riders.

 

It’s a huge event, and to celebrate this annual carnival of extreme endurance, The Watch Gallery collated an infographic to showcase the evolution of the Tour: the record breaking 8 second margin between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon in 1989, to the 60kms of cables that are used to enable the broadcast of the race across the globe.

Whether you are a cyclist yourself, or an armchair warrior, the Tour de France has something to draw you in: the brutal gradients of the mountains, the speed of the flats, or even the numerous crashes that make you gasp. All of the riders have high levels of physical and mental prowess, but the only thing that delineates these hardcore athletes is the second hand on a watch – time is not on their side.

This is a paid advertorial for The Watch Gallery & Active.com

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