Tour of Britain 2008 - 8

By Protournews

Stage 8 Blackpool/Liverpool - Stages / Teams

A frenetic early start to the stage saw many riders trying to clear in the sunshine that greeted the peloton in Blackpool, before they rolled out through Lytham St Annes, along England’s North West coastline.

The final sprint - Pic by www.petegoding.com

Eventually when an attack did stick, it contained Magnus Backstedt, Dean Downing and Malcolm Elliott. The trio built up a maximum lead of just under two minutes, but a watchful peloton were never going to let them get too far clear, especially with the finish being an ideal battleground for the sprinters of LPR Brakes, CSC and Garmin – Chipotle.

As the peloton entered the outskirts of Liverpool, the gap was hovering around the 30-second mark as the trio navigated their way onto the finishing circuit, for six fast paced laps that would decided the winner of The Tour of Britain.

Entering the circuit CSC – Saxo Bank took control, setting a fast pace as the peloton passed the massive crowds lining the finish area on The Strand. Turning left up into Liverpool, riders were met with yet more crowds as they rose past the Town Hall and onto the E.ON King of the Mountains climb outside the Walker Art Gallery and the St George’s Hall.

By the third lap Backstedt was alone, his breakaway colleagues caught by the fast moving bunch. The big Swede lasted a further lap alone in front, but soon the frentic pace was too much for him also.

Such was the pace, it was very hard for any attackers to get clear, but as the peloton completed the fourth circuit, Stannard and Cummings dangled off the front, collecting the time bonuses on the line. Behind them race leader Lequatre took third as he and Agritubel maintained a watchful presence on the front of the field.

With two laps left, CSC ratcheted the pace even higher, with Chris Anker Sorensen and Bradley McGee both doing long hard turns on the front to set up Matt Goss for the sprint.

Exiting the hairpin on the final lap, it was CSC in positions one, two and three for the final ultra-fast run down to the finish line, in the shadow of Liverpool’s Three Graces’. Behind Goss in third position was double stage winner Petacchi, and when the Italian opened up the sprint, there was nothing the Australian could do as Petacchi led Julian Dean and Robbie Hunter past him for the 1-2-3.

Summary of wins
The win means Petacchi equalled Team Columbia’s Edvald Boasson Hagen on three stage wins for The Tour of Britain, with Agritubel’s Emilien Berges and CSC’s Goss the other stage winners.

Alessandro Petacchi added a win on the banks of the River Mersey, to wins next to the Thames and Tyne, as he took victory in the final stage of the 2008 Tour of Britain in Liverpool, while Geoffroy Lequatre finished safely in the bunch to seal the overall victory.

Lequatre’s victory makes him not only the second consecutive French rider to win The Tour of Britain, but also the second consecutive Agritubel rider, a run which the team have vowed to extend to three wins in 2009.

Behind Lequatre, Merseyside rider Steve Cummings narrowed his overall deficit to 5 seconds, by picking up second place at the penultimate Hot Spot Sprint behind compatriot Ian Stannard, who moved into third thanks to the three-second bonus.

In the other jersey classifications, Danilo Di Luca sealed victory in the E.ON King of the Mountains competition over last year’s winner Ben Swift, boosting his chances of selection for the Italian squad for this months World Championships, while triple stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen picked up a point in the day’s opening Sprint to win the Sprints Jersey.

Fourth place on the stage allowed Matt Goss to edge Julian Dean to don the Points Jersey and Agritubel took the Teams Classification to go with their overall Yellow Jersey.

1 5 Geoffroy Lequatre, AGR Agritubel 27h21'49"
2 61 Steve Cummings, BAR Barloworld 27h21'54" @05"
3 23 Ian Stannard, GBR Great Britain 27h22'03" @14"
4 94 Daniel Martin, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h22'04" @15"
5 144 Gabriele Bosisio, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h22'05" @16"
6 123 Benny De Schrooder, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h22'09" @20"
7 124 Daniel Fleeman, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h22'14" @25"
8 106 Frederik Veuchelen, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h22'18" @29"
9 2 Emilien Berges, AGR Agritubel 27h22'39" @50"
10 41 Russell Downing, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h23'14" @01'25"
11 34 Alejandro Marque Porto, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h23'37" @01'48"
12 113 Jonathan Bellis, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h23'39" @01'50"
13 55 Kristian House, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h23'39" = s/t
14 13 Roger Hammond, THR Team Columbia 27h23'42" @01'53"
15 131 David George, MTN MTN Energade 27h23'44" @01'55"
16 95 Chris Sutton, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h23'49" @02'00"
17 86 Simon Richardson, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h23'54" @02'05"
18 104 Kristof Vandewalle, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h24'38" @02'49"
19 132 Kevin Evans, MTN MTN Energade 27h25'21" @03'32"
20 66 Hugo Sabido, BAR Barloworld 27h26'54" @05'05"
21 12 Edvald Boasson Hagen, THR Team Columbia 27h31'08" @09'19"
22 112 Matthew Goss, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h31'39" @09'50"
23 93 Julian Dean, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h32'25" @10'36"
24 24 Tom Southam, GBR Great Britain 27h33'45" @11'56"
25 141 Alessandro Petacchi, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h34'15" @12'26"
26 25 Ben Swift, GBR Great Britain 27h34'41" @12'52"
27 15 Vicente Reynes, THR Team Columbia 27h34'41" = s/t
28 156 Johnnie Walker, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h35'07" @13'18"
29 42 Malcolm Elliott, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h35'28" @13'39"
30 101 Kristof Goddaert, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h36'01" @14'12"
31 103 Serge Pauwels, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h36'59" @15'10"
32 56 Rob Partridge, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h38'08" @16'19"
33 75 Fred Rodriguez, RRC Rock Racing 27h38'09" @16'20"
34 1 Romain Feillu, AGR Agritubel 27h38'10" @16'21"
35 81 Evan Oliphant, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h38'10" = s/t
36 3 Steven Caethoven, AGR Agritubel 27h39'40" @17'51"
37 136 Waylon Woolcock, MTN MTN Energade 27h39'50" @18'01"
38 22 Jonathan McEvoy, GBR Great Britain 27h39'52" @18'03"
39 145 Giairo Ermeti, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h40'00" @18'11"
40 44 Tom Murray, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h40'50" @19'01"
41 111 Stuart O'Grady, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h40'57" @19'08"
42 105 Pieter Vanspeybrouck, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h40'58" @19'09"
43 142 Danilo Di Luca, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h41'35" @19'46"
44 32 David Blanco Rodriguez, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h41'51" @20'02"
45 4 Freddy Bichot, AGR Agritubel 27h43'38" @21'49"
46 35 Paul Sneeboer, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h44'40" @22'51"
47 14 Greg Henderson, THR Team Columbia 27h45'01" @23'12"
48 116 Chris Sorensen, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h45'12" @23'23"
49 73 Santiago Botero, RRC Rock Racing 27h46'03" @24'14"
50 65 Daryl Impey, BAR Barloworld 27h46'22" @24'33"
51 76 Oscar Sevilla, RRC Rock Racing 27h46'33" @24'44"
52 26 Andrew Tennant, GBR Great Britain 27h48'02" @26'13"
53 146 Alessandro Spezialetti, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h48'13" @26'24"
54 71 Tyler Hamilton, RRC Rock Racing 27h49'11" @27'22"
55 43 Lee Davis, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h49'25" @27'36"
56 155 Wesley Sulzberger, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h49'39" @27'50"
57 74 Victor Hugo Pena, RRC Rock Racing 27h50'28" @28'39"
58 96 Trent Lowe, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h50'38" @28'49"
59 92 Magnus Backstedt, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h51'36" @29'47"
60 46 Peter Williams, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h52'18" @30'29"
61 82 Tom Barras, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h52'56" @31'07"
62 122 Stephen Gallagher, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h53'33" @31'44"
63 152 Zakkari Dempster, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h54'22" @32'33"
64 135 Heerden, Juan Van MTN MTN Energade 27h55'32" @33'43"
65 21 Rob Hayles, GBR Great Britain 27h56'23" @34'34"
66 125 Kenny Lisabeth, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h56'37" @34'48"
67 52 Dale Appleby, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h56'42" @34'53"
68 133 Neil MacDonald, MTN MTN Energade 27h56'47" @34'58"
69 6 Nicolas Vogondy, AGR Agritubel 27h56'52" @35'03"
70 91 David Millar, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h57'45" @35'56"
71 64 Robbie Hunter, BAR Barloworld 27h58'33" @36'44"
72 153 Cameron Meyer, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h58'36" @36'47"
73 62 Geraint Thomas, BAR Barloworld 27h58'49" @37'00"
74 143 Claudio Cucinotta, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h59'40" @37'51"
75 53 Dean Downing, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 28h00'50" @39'01"
76 115 Bradley McGee, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 28h02'01" @40'12"
77 36 Tomas Swift-Metcalfe, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 28h02'52" @41'03"
78 85 James Millard, PCA Plowman Craven RT 28h04'46" @42'57"
79 16 Bradley Wiggins, THR Team Columbia 28h05'09" @43'20"
80 51 Chris Newton, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 28h05'18" @43'29"
81 134 Jay Thomson, MTN MTN Energade 28h07'07" @45'18"
82 84 Simon Gaywood, PCA Plowman Craven RT 28h12'25" @50'36"
83 45 Andrew Roche, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 28h22'46" @1h00'57"

Final General Classification
1 5 Geoffroy Lequatre, AGR Agritubel 27h21'49"
2 61 Steve Cummings, BAR Barloworld 27h21'54" @05"
3 23 Ian Stannard, GBR Great Britain 27h22'03" @14"
4 94 Daniel Martin, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h22'04" @15"
5 144 Gabriele Bosisio, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h22'05" @16"
6 123 Benny De Schrooder, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h22'09" @20"
7 124 Daniel Fleeman, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h22'14" @25"
8 106 Frederik Veuchelen, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h22'18" @29"
9 2 Emilien Berges, AGR Agritubel 27h22'39" @50"
10 41 Russell Downing, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h23'14" @01'25"
11 34 Alejandro Marque-Porto, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h23'37" @01'48"
12 113 Jonathan Bellis, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h23'39" @01'50"
13 55 Kristian House, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h23'39" = s/t
14 13 Roger Hammond, THR Team Columbia 27h23'42" @01'53"
15 131 David George, MTN MTN Energade 27h23'44" @01'55"
16 95 Chris Sutton, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h23'49" @02'00"
17 86 Simon Richardson, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h23'54" @02'05"
18 104 Kristof Vandewalle, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h24'38" @02'49"
19 132 Kevin Evans, MTN MTN Energade 27h25'21" @03'32"
20 66 Hugo Sabido, BAR Barloworld 27h26'54" @05'05"
21 12 Edvald Boasson Hagen, THR Team Columbia 27h31'08" @09'19"
22 112 Matthew Goss, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h31'39" @09'50"
23 93 Julian Dean, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h32'25" @10'36"
24 24 Tom Southam, GBR Great Britain 27h33'45" @11'56"
25 141 Alessandro Petacchi, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h34'15" @12'26"
26 25 Ben Swift, GBR Great Britain 27h34'41" @12'52"
27 15 Vicente Reynes, THR Team Columbia 27h34'41" = s/t
28 156 Johnnie Walker, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h35'07" @13'18"
29 42 Malcolm Elliott, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h35'28" @13'39"
30 101 Kristof Goddaert, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h36'01" @14'12"
31 103 Serge Pauwels, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h36'59" @15'10"
32 56 Rob Partridge, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h38'08" @16'19"
33 75 Fred Rodriguez, RRC Rock Racing 27h38'09" @16'20"
34 1 Romain Feillu, AGR Agritubel 27h38'10" @16'21"
35 81 Evan Oliphant, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h38'10" = s/t
36 3 Steven Caethoven, AGR Agritubel 27h39'40" @17'51"
37 136 Waylon Woolcock, MTN MTN Energade 27h39'50" @18'01"
38 22 Jonathan McEvoy, GBR Great Britain 27h39'52" @18'03"
39 145 Giairo Ermeti, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h40'00" @18'11"
40 44 Tom Murray, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h40'50" @19'01"
41 111 Stuart O'Grady, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h40'57" @19'08"
42 105 Pieter Vanspeybrouck, TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 27h40'58" @19'09"
43 142 Danilo Di-Luca, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h41'35" @19'46"
44 32 Rodriguez, David Blanco PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h41'51" @20'02"
45 4 Freddy Bichot, AGR Agritubel 27h43'38" @21'49"
46 35 Paul Sneeboer, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 27h44'40" @22'51"
47 14 Greg Henderson, THR Team Columbia 27h45'01" @23'12"
48 116 Chris Sorensen, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 27h45'12" @23'23"
49 73 Santiago Botero, RRC Rock Racing 27h46'03" @24'14"
50 65 Daryl Impey, BAR Barloworld 27h46'22" @24'33"
51 76 Oscar Sevilla, RRC Rock Racing 27h46'33" @24'44"
52 26 Andrew Tennant, GBR Great Britain 27h48'02" @26'13"
53 146 Alessandro Spezialetti, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h48'13" @26'24"
54 71 Tyler Hamilton, RRC Rock Racing 27h49'11" @27'22"
55 43 Lee Davis, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h49'25" @27'36"
56 155 Wesley Sulzberger, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h49'39" @27'50"
57 74 Victor Hugo Pena, RRC Rock Racing 27h50'28" @28'39"
58 96 Trent Lowe, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h50'38" @28'49"
59 92 Magnus Backstedt, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h51'36" @29'47"
60 46 Peter Williams, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 27h52'18" @30'29"
61 82 Tom Barras, PCA Plowman Craven RT 27h52'56" @31'07"
62 122 Stephen Gallagher, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h53'33" @31'44"
63 152 Zakkari Dempster, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h54'22" @32'33"
64 135 Juan Van Heerden, MTN MTN Energade 27h55'32" @33'43"
65 21 Rob Hayles, GBR Great Britain 27h56'23" @34'34"
66 125 Kenny Lisabeth, SKT An Post M.Donnelly 27h56'37" @34'48"
67 52 Dale Appleby, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 27h56'42" @34'53"
68 133 Neil MacDonald, MTN MTN Energade 27h56'47" @34'58"
69 6 Nicolas Vogondy, AGR Agritubel 27h56'52" @35'03"
70 91 David Millar, TSL Garmin - Chipotle 27h57'45" @35'56"
71 64 Robbie Hunter, BAR Barloworld 27h58'33" @36'44"
72 153 Cameron Meyer, AIS SouthAustralia.com - AIS 27h58'36" @36'47"
73 62 Geraint Thomas, BAR Barloworld 27h58'49" @37'00"
74 143 Claudio Cucinotta, LPR LPR Brakes - Ballan 27h59'40" @37'51"
75 53 Dean Downing, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 28h00'50" @39'01"
76 115 Bradley McGee, CSC Team CSC - Saxo Bank 28h02'01" @40'12"
77 36 Tomas Swift-Metcalfe, PRT Palmeiras Resort - Tavira 28h02'52" @41'03"
78 85 James Millard, PCA Plowman Craven RT 28h04'46" @42'57"
79 16 Bradley Wiggins, THR Team Columbia 28h05'09" @43'20"
80 51 Chris Newton, RCR Rapha - Condor - Recycling.co. 28h05'18" @43'29"
81 134 Jay Thomson, MTN MTN Energade 28h07'07" @45'18"
82 84 Simon Gaywood, PCA Plowman Craven RT 28h12'25" @50'36"
83 45 Andrew Roche, POT Pinarello RT - Candi TV 28h22'46" @1h00'57"

Points
1 112 M Goss, CSC 65
2 93 J Dean, TSL 62
3 12 E Boasson Hagen, THR 60

Sprints
1 12 E Boasson Hagen, THR 24
2 142 D Di Luca, LPR 23
3 145 G Ermeti, LPR 15

Mountains
1 142 D Di Luca, LPR 39
2 25 B Swift, GBR 33
3 55 K House, RCR 19

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