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.

Audio Interview – Caleb Ewan – Winner Stage 1 Tour of Britain

Caleb Ewan of Team Orica-Scott talks to the media after winning Stage 1 in the OVO Tour of Britain 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

 

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

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.

Audio – Tour of Britain 2017 Pre Race Press Conference

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.

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

 

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

HSBC-UK Woman’s National Road Series 2017 | Ryedale Grand Prix

HSBC-UK Woman’s National Road Series 2017 | Ryedale Grand Prix

Massey wins the final HSBC-UK National Women’s Road Series event, the Ryedale Grand Prix.

Laura Massey, Drops Pro Cycling powered up-to the finish line in the grounds of Ampleforth Abbey and College just ahead of Alice Sharpe, NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli and the overall Series Winner Lizzy Banks, Storey Racing in a thrilling climax to the ninth and final round in the Road Series.

Sixty-one riders took the start-line in the 2017 edition of the Ryedale GP, one of the toughest courses in the calendar.

Missing from the start list was second place in the Series, Melissa Lowther, Team Breeze who was away racing in Europe prior to today’s race, and Banks only rival close enough to steal her glory.

Massey had started a little further back, but moved up into second after today’s win and furthermore securing the Team classification for Drops Pro Cycling at the same time.

The first and only real move of the day came on the second lap of the big circuit when Steph Mottram, NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli went clear on the climb to Yearsley and quickly established a thirty-five second lead.

With no reaction from the peloton, Mottram found herself out-front and alone with her lead extending every pedal stroke and by the thirty-six kilometre marker had extended to fifty seconds.

Starting the first of the smaller laps, Mottram’s lead had grown to one-forty-two reaching the fifty-kilometer-marker out of ninety-four-point-one kilometre race.

The gap remained around the one-thirty mark for the second small circuit before the signs of small attacks began and the peloton split with seventeen riders breaking free including the usual favourites’ and four members of Storey Racing.

Mottram took the bell with her lead diminishing and Chanel Mason, Storey Racing whom had held the Series lead at one point clipped off the front briefly.

With only five kilometres remaining it was the end of Mottram’s lead being caught on the final climb, opening up the opportunity for one of the chasing bunch to claim the race win, and as they sped towards the drag up towards the Abbey only the strongest rider would seal the victory.

Interview – Lizzy Banks at Ryedale GP 2017 – National Series Winner by Cycling Shorts

Lizzy Banks of Storey Racing chats to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc after taking the National Series Title. All content ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

“The girl was off the front and she was really going well, she had two minutes at one point. But it was windy out there and five laps it’s going to take its toll.

I think the peloton was being fairly patient, her team doing some of the work.”

“It got a bit frisky on that last lap, there were a few attacks, but I just followed their wheel and then the uphill-kick. I can do that”.

Laura Massey

Race Winner, Drops Pro Cycling

CS: Steph spent most of the race out front, alone.

“I needed an extra 7K didn’t I”.

“I was only moving out of the way for the motorbike on the hill, and then I had a gap. I thought well… I might as well have a go. You just push, don’t you”.

“When I came to the last lap, I thought if I can get up the hill with everything going on, I thought I would be able to hold it.”

“I was hoping at one point (That someone would come across) especially after the first big lap and I had a minute. I was hoping one or two might come join me”.

“This time last year I would of never of managed that”

Steph Mottram

Rider, NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli

CS: Beginning the season you won the Tour of the Wolds. Did you think, come the end of the season you would be here and now wearing the leader’s jersey?

“Once I’d won that it was a real incentive going into the second round, you have the leaders jersey, so be as consistent at as possible – which is something I always aim to do”.

“Then once I had the jersey, I had my eyes on the prize!

It would have been really nice to take the win here today, but Laura was too strong and she played the perfect race. She was on her own, she’s a nice sprinter – credit to her – I was really pleased to get on the podium today in third. A good day’s work all-in-all.”

CS: You switched teams since beginning the season, the support from Storey must really have helped a lot.

“Yeh, absolutely. Just from the first race – the amount I learnt immediately was absolutely amazing. What about thinking about this, about this, (as the team rallied around) and about this? 

Yeh, having the support of the team mates, they are such a strong group of girls and really, really lovely group of girls – and it’s just nice to be part of that. Sarah and Barney just ouse knowledge and yeh, it’s brilliant!”

 

Lizzy Banks

National Series Winner, Storey Racing

Interview – Laura Massey Rydale GP 2017 Winner by Cycling Shorts

Laura Massey of Drops Cycling chats to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc after her win at the 2017 Ryedale Grand Prix.

CS: How tough is that final uphill kick to the finish line?

“It’s horrible cos you can see it, and its 300 meters, 250 meters and you have been going for ages! How is it still 200 meters to go? But yeh, it’s hard.” 

Knowing when to go, obviously everyone’s also dying behind you- you have to stay out of the wind”.

“I was sad for her (Steph) when she got caught, I felt I needed to carry on and do something”.

“I was very pleased with my second place result”.

 

Alice Sharpe

sprinted into second place in Ampleforth., NCC Groupe-Kuota-Torelli

1 23 Laura Massey Drops 2:50:40

2 42 Alice Sharpe NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli st

3 49 Elizabeth Banks Storey Racing st

4 53 Elizabeth-Jane Harris Storey Racing +4

5 79 Natalie Grinczer Team WNT st

6 34 Genevieve Whitson Isorex Cycling Team +5

7 16 Julie Erskine Cycle Team OnForm st

8 17 Anna Henderson Cycle Team OnForm st

9 9 Emma Cockcroft Bianchi Dama UK st

10 13 Georgina Panchaud Bianchi Dama UK st

11 78 Gabriella Shaw Team WNT st

12 21 Sian Bottlerly Cycle Team OnForm +10

13 54 Chanel Mason Storey Racing st

14 71 Jennifer Powell Team Ford Ecoboost st

15 4 Rebecca Johnson Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire st

16 30 Jennifer Hudson Fusion RT Fierlan +13

17 40 Stephanie Mottram NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli +16

18 50 Bethany Crumpton Storey Racing +17

19 6 Emma Lewis Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire +1:00

20 72 Jo Tindley Team Ford Ecoboost +1:04

21 25 Alana Prior EDCO Continental +1:40

22 19 Gemma Sargent Cycle Team OnForm +1:42

23 46 Amy Gornall Secret-Training.cc +1:49

24 35 Helen Jackson Kendal Cycle Club +4:10

25 83 Rebecca Goodson Velo Schils – Interbike RT +7:02

26 64 Savannah Morgan Team 22 +7:04

27 67 Melissa Brand Team Ford Ecoboost +8:12

28 27 Florence Cox Equipe Flamme Rouge +8:17

29 3 Lauren Humphreys Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire +9:50

30 70 Charmaine Porter Team Ford Ecoboost +9:53

31 18 Amy Hill Cycle Team OnForm +9:56

32 57 Gabriella Nordin SunSport Velo +9:58

33 56 Elizabeth Burrows SunSport Velo +10:00

34 24 Hetty Niblett EDCO Continental +10:06

35 22 Jessica Woodworth Cycle Team OnForm +10:09

36 20 Charlotte Redden Cycle Team OnForm +10:11

37 80 Anna Badegruber Team WNT +10:16

38 51 Monica Dew Storey Racing +10:18

39 38 Rhiannon Gornall NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli +10:22

40 26 Hannah Righini-Brand EDCO Continental +10:27

41 43 Sophie Thackray NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli +13:45

42 74 Lucinda Kerr Team Jadan-Weldtite OTL

43 63 Phoebe Martin Team 22 OTL

44 55 Mercy Webb Storey Racing OTL

45 28 Tina Hartwright Fusion RT Fierlan OTL

46 1 Melissa Greaves All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peac OTL

47 66 Ellie Park Team 22 OTL

1 Drops Pro Cycling 380

2 Storey Racing 329

3 Cycle Team OnForm 308

4 Team WNT 260

5 Team Breeze 205

6 Team Ford Ecoboost 141

7 Bianchi Dama UK 100

8 NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli 68

9 Wiggle High5 63

10 SunSport Velo 60

11 Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire 60

12 Strada Sport 47

13 Fusion RT Fierlan 46

14 Isorex Cycling Team 46

15 Team Vision Innovative Leisure 32

16 Team Corley Cycles 29

17 Abergavenny Road Club 29

18 Liv Cycling Club – Epic Coachin 23

19 Team Vertex-Biemme RT 16

20 EDCO Continental 11

21 Team Jadan-Weldtite 9

22 Team 22 8

23 Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 4

23 Matrix Pro Cycling 4

25 Portsmouth North End CC 3

Individual Points after Round Nine

1 Elizabeth Banks Storey Racing 172

2 Laura Massey Drops 140

3 Melissa Lowther Team Breeze 135

4 Chanel Mason Storey Racing 112

5 Natalie Grinczer Team WNT 107

6 Hannah Payton Drops 101

7 Julie Erskine Cycle Team OnForm 84

8 Sian Botteley Cycle Team OnForm 84

9 Joscelin Lowden Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire 76

9 Hayley Simmonds Team WNT 76

11 Elizabeth-Jane Harris Storey Racing 72

12 Anna Henderson Cycle Team OnForm 72

13 Alice Sharpe NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli 68

14 Sophie Wright Strada Sport 61

15 Grace Garner Wiggle High5 56

16 Genevieve Whitson Isorex Cycling Team 54

17 Georgina Panchaud Bianchi Dama UK 53

18 Annasley Park Drops 52

19 Katie Archibald Team WNT 50

20 Emily Nelson Team Breeze 50

21 Jennifer Powell Team Ford Ecoboost 50

22 Charmaine Porter Team Ford Ecoboost 47

23 Rebecca Durrell Drops 44

24 Emma Cockcroft Bianchi Dama UK 42

25 Annabel Simpson Drops 40

26 Rose Osborne Drops 40

27 Jennifer George Storey Racing 35

28 Gabriella Shaw Team WNT 34

29 Jennifer Holden Fusion RT Fierlan 32

30 Ffion James Abergavenny Road Club 31

31 Alice Barnes Drops 30

32 Amy Hill Cycle Team OnForm 30

33 Karla Boddy Team Corley Cycles 29

34 Anna Christian Drops 28

35 Madeleine Gammons Team Vision Innovative Leisure 28

36 Abigail Van Twisk Drops 27

37 Lydia Boylan Team WNT 26

37 Nicola Juniper Team Ford Ecoboost 26

39 Alicia Speake Cycle Team OnForm 25

40 Manon Lloyd Team Breeze 22

41 Charlotte Broughton Team Ford Ecoboost 20

42 Megan Barker Team Breeze 20

43 Eleanor Dickinson Team Breeze 19

44 Rebecca Womersley Drops 18

45 Neah Evans Storey Racing 18

46 Jennifer Hudson Fusion RT Fierlan 18

47 Charlotte Redden Cycle Team OnForm 16

48 Lauren Murphy Liv Cycling Club – Epic Coachin 14

49 Anna Kay EDCO Continental 14

50 Lucy Horrocks Team Vertex-Biemme RT 13

51 Sian Bottlerly Cycle Team OnForm 9

52 Elizabeth Bennett Liv Cycling Club – Epic Coachin 9

53 Becca Carter Team WNT 9

53 Bethany Crumpton Storey Racing 9

55 Savannah Morgan Team 22 8

56 Amy Roberts Wiggle High5 7

56 Rhona Callander Team Jadan-Weldtite 7

58 Rebecca Johnson Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire 6

59 Jessica Woodworth Cycle Team OnForm 5

60 Charlotte Colclough Bianchi Dama UK 5

61 Lorna Bowler Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 4

61 Tamara Davenne Team Vision Innovative Leisure 4

61 Gabriella Nordin SunSport Velo 4

61 Stephanie Mottram NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli 4

61 Amira Mellor Matrix Pro Cycling 4

66 Jessica Finney Portsmouth North End CC 3

66 Bethany Taylor Team Vertex-Biemme RT 3

68 Emma Lewis Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire 2

68 Josie Knight Team WNT 2

68 Holly Flannery Team Jadan-Weldtite 2

68 Elizabeth Burrows SunSport Velo 2

68 Eileen Roe Team WNT 2

73 Kelly Murphy Team Ford Ecoboost 1

73 Jo Tindley Team Ford Ecoboost 1

73 Monica Dew Storey Racing 1

73 Bethany Hayward Team Ford Ecoboost 1

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

Interview – Lizzy Banks at Ryedale GP 2017 – National Series Winner

Lizzy Banks of Storey Racing chats to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc after taking the National Series Title.

Interview – Lizzy Banks at Ryedale GP 2017 – National Series Winner by Cycling Shorts

Lizzy Banks of Storey Racing chats to Chris Maher of CyclingShorts.cc after taking the National Series Title. All content ©www.cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.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

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