Gerald Ciolek wins Tour of Britain stage two in Kendal

Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka) won stage two of the 2013 Tour of Britain on Monday, and took the overall race lead from stage one winner Elia Viviani (Cannondale).

The German Milan-San Remo champion punched his way past his rivals on the tough finishing climb in Kendal after a rain- and wind-swept day in the Lake District. Sam Bennett (AN Post Chain Reaction) placed second, with Thomas Lofkvist (IAM Cycling) in third. Great Britain's Simon Yates came home in fourth.

Yates moves up to second overall, 20 seconds behind Ciolek with Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in third, also at 20 seconds.

Day in the Lakes

Nicola Boem (Bardiani Valvole CSF Inox), Matt Cronshaw (IG Sigma Sport), Jonathan Dibben (Great Britain), Anthony Delaplace (Sojasun), Sean Downey (AN Post Chain Reaction), Angel Madrazo (Movistar) and Mike Northey (Node 4 Giordana Racing) had formed the day's main escape group, which worked well together for the first half of the 186.6km stage.  

On the steep ascent of Honister Pass with 70km to go, the break splintered as Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) attacked from the peloton. The duo worked hard up the climb - lined by hundred of spectators in a patchwork of brightly coloured raincoats - catching up with the remnants of the escape group after the twisting descent.

The pace set by Martin and Quintana was too hot for all but Quintana's team-mate Madrazo, and the trio pushed on ahead opening up a gap of around a minute until they too were caught.

In the final 10km we were treated to the rare sight of Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) putting in an attack. Sky quickly chased him down, and then it was the turn of Thomas Lofkvist (IAM Cycling) to take a flyer.

By the final climb to the line in Kendal, Lofkvist was spent and was chased down by Bennett and Ciolek. Ciolek ground his way up the hill for a hard-fought win as Bennett faded metres from the line.

Tomorrow the general classification will face another major shake-up with the race's key 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Park. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and Alex Dowsett (Movistar) are the pre-stage favourites in front of the home crowd. Full stage three preview >>

Results (provisional)

Tour of Britain 2013, stage two: Carlisle to Kendal, 186.6km

1. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka

2. Sam Bennett (Irl) AN Post Chain Reaction

3. Thomas Lofkvist (Swe) IAM Cycling at 6 secs

4. Simon Yates (GBr) Great Britain

5. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

6. Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-Sharp at 9 secs

7. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling

8. Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox

9. Sergio Pardilla (Spa) MTN-Qhubeka

10. Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at same time

Other

12. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp at 12 secs

18. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky at 17 secs

35. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 17 secs

Overall classification after stage two

1. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka

2. Simon Yates (GBr) Great Britain at 20 secs

3. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 20 secs

4. Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox at 23 secs

5. Sergio Pardilla (Spa) MTN-Qhubeka at 23 secs

6. Juilen Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 23 secs

7. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling at 23 secs

8. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox at 23 secs

9. Scott Thwaites (GBr) NetApp-Endura at 26 secs

10. Francesco Bongiorno (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox at 26 secs

Other

11. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp at 26 secs

12. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky at 30 secs

19. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar at 31 secs

Points classification

Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN Qhubeka

King of the Mountains classification

Angel Madrazo (Spa) Movistar

Sprint classification

Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox

Young rider classification

Simon Yates (GBr) Great Britain

The race winds its way up Honister Pass

The crowds on a wet and bleak Honister Passs

Peter Hawkins

Gerald Ciolek wins

Related links

Tour of Britain 2013: Coverage index