Sunday September 16, 2012
Overall lead changes again in Tour of Britain
LONDON: Englishman Jonathan Tiernan-Locke rode into the overall lead on the Tour of Britain on Friday thanks to an agressive showing in the sixth stage in Wales, which was won by Leopold Koenig of the Czech Republic.
Tiernan-Locke, of the Endura Racing team, came second behind Team NetApp rider Koenig on the 189.8km ride from Welshpool to Caerphilly and takes the leader’s gold jersey from Australia’s Leigh Howard with two stages remaining.
The 27-year-old from Plymouth, who is rumoured to be joining Team Sky for next year and has been named in the British team for next week’s road World Championships, began the day in sixth place, 24 seconds behind Howard, of Orica-GreenEdge.
But now Tiernan-Locke, who received a six-second time bonus for placing second, has a 13-second lead over Howard going into Saturday’s seventh stage from Barnstaple to Dartmouth.
“That was always going to be the decisive day today, such a sharp climb twice,” Tiernan-Locke told British television station ITV4.
Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins was a non-starter in Welshpool because of illness after an eventful fifth stage to Stoke-on-Trent for Team Sky, which saw Mark Cavendish relinquish the race lead.
The eight-stage Tour of Britain finishes in Guildford, Surrey, today. — AFP
“It’s going to be great,” he said. “I’m counting on a lot of support there. I’m sure it’s going to be amazing.”
Wiggins will now focus on recovering in time for the road World Championships.
Tiernan-Locke believes Garmin-Sharp’s Nathan Haas, who took third place in a sprint for the line, is now his biggest rival in the general classification, but he will aim to enhance his advantage today .
- Hosts Malaysia make a tame exit at the hands of Germany
- BAM: There will be no more sweeping under the carpet
- It’s the last $traw thanks to the BWF
- Japanese upset Danes and Joo-bong is all smiles
- Denmark not prepared to take on mighty China just yet
- Dane loves to unwind with her Modern Family
- Tommy not afraid to play for country despite loss
- Low Wee Wern fails to clear opening round again in British Open
- Cyclists give the thumbs up to world-class velodrome
- Savinder Kaur is new middle distance queen after 1,500m victory
- Winger Ioane faces fitness race for first Lions test
- Cheruiyot expecting first child, aims to return in 2014
- Ramy wins fiery battle of words and deeds
- Injured Murray withdraws from French Open
- Zhang Jike retains world crown to secure fourth major title in a row
- Joy for Thongchai after Match-Play woe
- Rafie set to help Modenas catch up with rivals
- BAM: There will be no more sweeping under the carpet
- Australian Evans says Giro dream still alive
- Murray pulls out of French Open through injury
RSS
