Tim Merlier (Fix All Quick-Step) produced an incredible show of power to seal a stunning sprint victory on Skegness promenade on a chaotic and eventful day around the Lincolnshire coast on stage two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men.
Firing out of a reduced but elite group, the Belgian was like a bullet as he launched his bid for stage success on the home straight with around 500 metres remaining and he eventually won by a significant margin over Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), as race leader Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling Team) rolled across the line in the lead group to maintain a slim advantage at the top of the general classification.
Boston played home to the stage start, with crowds aplenty greeting the riders in the sunshine as they faced a mostly flat but challenging 180 kilometre test.
The break of the day was almost immediate in its formation, with a four-rider group attacking up the road as the flag dropped, including Janos Pelikan (Team United Shipping), Axel Kallberg (Lucky Sport Cycling Team), Lucas Beneteau (St Michel – Preference Home – Auberg9) and Jonah Killy (Tartello – Isorex).
The quartet remained ahead of the race with a healthy margin for the following 120 kilometres, with Pelikan taking maximum points on the only two King of the Mountain summits of the day, first at Kirmond Road and then Rothwell Hill, before the peloton began to reel in the line, with the group just holding on to take the first intermediate sprint points at Saltfleetby, with Killy taking the points, and three bonus seconds here.
The race then hit the coast at Mablethorpe and it was here that the race exploded, with crosswinds tearing gaps in the peloton as echelons formed across the road, with Decathlon the main drivers of the pace, as a poorly timed mechanical for Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) saw him miss the decisive move and he would never return to the head of the race, despite some valiant efforts.
Other big contenders for the stage including Merlier and Kooij, along with Askey, had made it across however, and the front group proceeded to tear across the open Lincolnshire lanes as the wind continued to wreak havoc, with more gaps threatening to open with no avail, and the Ganna group behind held at arm’s length.
The second intermediate sprint at Sutton-by-Sea saw Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling) come out on top to claim ten points and three bonus seconds, as Askey sprinted for third to claim a solitary but vital bonus second himself.
With the final 10 kilometres approaching, the speed and tension was ramped up further as the sprinters in the group put their teammates to work to try and hold an advantage, before Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) launched a last gasp break for victory. The Belgian quickly gained almost 30 seconds and caused concern to run through the lead group, before he was promptly reined back in and the sprint could unfold in earnest.
From here, Merlier and his Fix All Quick-Step teammates looked in control and it showed on the final corner, with the former European champion coming around the field to win at a canter, with Kooij just taking second ahead of Sam Bennett (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team).
Askey now holds a 12 second advantage at the top of the general classification, while also keeping the lead of the points classification, in which he has a 15 point margin.
With not enough points on offer from the two third category climbs on today’s stage to usurp Michal Schuran (Team United Shipping), he retains the lead in the King of the Mountains competition, while Elliot Rowe also continues to hold the lead in the young rider classification. The American Jonah Killy (USA) [Tartoletto – Isorex] took the combativity award for the day.
Speaking after the podium, Merlier said: “I’m a bit tired but really happy to win and to take my 10th win of the season over here.
“I was a bit boxed in and some other riders passed me before the corner, but there was still 350m to go and then I think some guys didn’t really accelerate after the corner and then I tried to surprise the others, and I think it worked out. I think they were a bit surprised that I went so early but If it’s a sprint, I have confidence.”
Best young rider Rowe said: “There were pretty windy conditions today. A couple of hours were very controlled and very easy, and to be honest, I was glad it kicked off, it was good to get racing early and get stuck in.
“It’s not really my thing, sprinting like that, so it was good to give it a go.”
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men heads on to a pair of stages in Yorkshire over Friday and Saturday with stage three starting in Hull and ending in Beverley, before stage four takes in the best of North Yorkshire from Helmsley to Leyburn.
The race will conclude in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 6 September, with the village of Earlston hosting a stage for the first time. There the general classification will be decided, after two demanding and relentless final stages, and the winner of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will be awarded.
Pic: SWPix.com
