Caleb Ewan takes first stage at Tour of Britain
Sep 03 2017 10:34 pm CET
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDSOrica-Scott's Caleb Ewan has won the first stage of the Tour of Britain. In a close final sprint, the Australian was the fastest ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen and Elia Viviani.
The first stage of the British race was 190 kilometres long between Edinburgh and Kelso, in Scotland. The day featured a rolling route with three two category climbs and a downhill finish.
The breakaway of the day was formed by eight riders: Mark McNally (Wanty Groupe Gobert), Rob Partridge (BIKE Channel Canyon), Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Connor Swift (Madison Genesis), Karol Domagalski (ONE Pro Ccyling), Lukasz Owsian (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice) and Jacob Scott (An Post CRC). The group managed to create a gap of more than three minutes with the peloton.
At one of the climbs, Domagalski and Owsian went ahead of the front group and continued on their own for some kilometres, while a pack lead by Team Sky and Quick-Step Floors increased the pace to catch them.
Owsian attacked and went solo on the last hill but was caught by the peloton at around 25 kilometres to go. The pack then rode together and each team worked hard to keep the position for its sprinters.
The result of the final sprint was very close and Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) crossed the finish line just ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) and Elia Viviani (Team Sky).
