André Greipel wins stage one of the Tour of Britain
The German sprinter benefited from a slick lead-out and proved the strongest sprinter
André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) took the sprint win on stage one of the 2016 Tour of Britain to take the first leader's jersey. Caleb Ewan (Orica-BikeExchange) followed over in second after he was unable to come round the German in the closing 100 metres.
The win puts Greipel in the first leader's jersey of the race and bodes well for his preparations for the World Championships.
"It’s always nice to start of with a victory," said Greipel. "We’re setting goals to win a stage and we’ve reached that on the first day. We can be happy.
"It’s not always easy to make a lead-out with six guys. We had to chase down the break and we did a good job to keep me up there in the last corner," the Geramn champion continued.
"I had a really good lead-out until the final 150 metres with Marcel Sieberg and Jens Debusschere in front of me. Of course I’m happy to finish it off."
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), who would have had his eye on the win, was not able to contest the finish after he was caught up in a crash on a sharp bend in the closing kilometre.
The Manxman rode across the finish line and didn't look too badly affected by the fall.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I don’t know [what happened]," said Cavendish. "Next thing Elia [Viviani] was underneath me and I think he lost his front wheel."
The British rider confirmed that's he isn't seriously injured, "I’m all right. I’ve hurt my arm a bit, but nothing is broken.”
The early break included five riders all looking for points in the subsidiary competitions, under the assumption that the WorldTour teams will scrap for overall honours.
Tom Moses (JLT-Condor), Pete Williams (One Pro), Johnny McEvoy (NFTO), Jasper Bovenhuis (An Post Chain Reaction) and Emiel Wastyn (An Post Chain Reaction) were all present at the head of the race, and at best their advantage went out to around three minutes before the chasing peloton began to reel them back in.
With the peloton charging them down, Wastyn tried to go solo and gained an advantage of about 20 seconds on his breakaway companions but they soon brought him back. All the while the peloton slowed its chase and left the group to dangle around 55 seconds up the road, before slowly bringing the gap down.
Read more about the Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain start list 2017
Tour of Britain 2021 route: Start and finish locations unveiled for 18th edition
In familiar style, Ian Stannard (Team Sky) spent much of the day on the sharp end of the chasing peloton, and that despite being visibly bloodied and bruised from an early fall. The Team Sky rider was assisted in the chase by LottoNL-Jumbo and Orica-BikeExchange as the breakaway's lead dropped below 30 seconds with 20km left to race.
As a light rain started to fall, Wastyn reached out from the front group for a second time only to have the gap closed down almost straight away. The four other riders went straight past him, and Wastyn was the first to be caught by the peloton with 10.2km left to the finish.
The final catch was made with 9.6km to go and the sprinters' teams began to organise themselves at the front.
The low down on the Tour of Britain
Result
Tour of Britain 2016, stage one: Glasgow – Castle Douglas, 168km
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
2. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
3. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant Alpecin
4. Max Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick Step
5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
6. Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
7. Steele von Hoff (Aus) One Pro
8. Chris Latham (GBr) Team Wiggins
9. Dan McLay (GBr) Great Britain
10. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal
General classification after stage one
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
2. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
3. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant Alpecin
4. Max Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick Step
5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
6. Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
7. Steele von Hoff (Aus) One Pro
8. Chris Latham (GBr) Team Wiggins
9. Dan McLay (GBr) Great Britain
10. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online.
-
Is Lotte Kopecky's bog-standard Specialized Crux proof that you don't need wide tires and fancy suspension systems for gravel racing?
Kopecky finished second at Gravel Worlds on a bike with minimal modifications
By Joe Baker Published
-
Undercover Mechanic: Cyclists have become very excited about aerodynamics without a correlated excitement for pilates - the result is a lot of spacers
90% of the front area is you, not the bike; having a kamtail downtube will make sod all difference if you’re unable to reach the bars, argues CW’s Undercover Mechanic
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
Mark Cavendish set to end his career at Tour de France Singapore Criterium
Event will be Cavendish's final appearance for Astana Qazaqstan after he won a record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage in July
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I've lived everyone’s dream': Mark Cavendish hints at snap retirement after last ever Tour de France stage
The Manx Missile is the 2024 Tour's lanterne rouge
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'I'm so tired': Emotional Mark Cavendish thanks teammates after surviving Tour de France time cut
The Briton is just two days away from finishing the Tour de France for an eighth time
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Mark Cavendish makes time limit on stage 19 - and four other tales of riders who survived the Tour de France cut-off
Brit finishes with more than five minutes to spare on Isola 2000
By Tom Davidson Published
-
End of an era: Witnessing Mark Cavendish's last ever Tour de France sprint
The Astana Qazaqstan rider finished 17th in Nîmes in what is almost definitely his last ever sprint at the Tour. Cycling Weekly was there to see it
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mark Cavendish 'upset and angry' after being relegated for 'deviation' on Tour de France stage 12
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider originally finished fifth, before being relegated
By Adam Becket Published
-
Rod Ellingworth 'totally open' to Mark Cavendish making Tour of Britain appearance
'There will always be a place for Mark' says race director after Cavendish’s Tour de France record breaking triumph in Saint-Vulbas
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish says he has 'one' opportunity left to take another Tour de France stage win
The Manxman was left frustrated after finishing 18th on stage 10
By Adam Becket Published