Following on from the days over the hills, Friday’s stage four at the Tour of Britain looked to be the first opportunity for a big bunch sprint as the peloton were faced with a 138 kilometre parcours from Derby to Newark-on-Trent. The stage fell into a familiar pattern with a three rider breakaway going clear early on and all Team dsm-firmenich PostNL riders remaining in the bunch.
Oliver Peace and Bjoern Koerdt helped to contribute to the pace setting in the peloton, as they slowly reeled in the breakaway throughout the afternoon. Once those out front were caught inside 20 kilometres to go, the stage became tactical for a while, as several moves were instigated and then shut down, with Koerdt and Sean Flynn both marking them out. Coming into the finale, Flynn brought Emils Liepins and fast-finisher Casper van Uden forward, dropping them off in a good spot with the flamme rouge in sight. Van Uden was on eventual stage winner Magnier’s wheel, but going around the last corner he found himself sandwiched between two riders and he had to touch the brakes, which cost him his momentum and the chase to go for a top result; eventually finishing in ninth place. Oscar Onley finished safely in the peloton and holds onto second on GC and the best young rider’s jersey.
Speaking after the stage lead-out man Flynn said: “We rode well as a unit all day to be in a good position to react to potential echelons. When the action started in the final we did well to have the moves covered and we were able to come into the final few kilometres in a good position. Unfortunately things didn’t go Casper’s way in the last kilometre but we will be back tomorrow to try and put that right!”
