Froome adds stardust but Carthy takes centre stage

The sight of Chris Froome leading the peloton through sleepy Devon villages and rolling Exmoor hills was exactly what the OVO Energy Tour of Britain organisers would have dreamt about building up to this race.

This is Froome’s first Tour of Britain in nine years, since becoming a serial Grand Tour winner, and his presence this week has lent the event a certain stardust, even if the 33 year-old is not really at the races himself.

Both Froome and his Sky teammate, Geraint Thomas, are well below par owing to their various endeavours earlier this summer. But their lack of form has allowed the spotlight to shine instead on some younger British talent.

Yesterday it was the turn of Hugh Carthy to grab centre stage. Carthy (EF Education First-drapac) lit up an enthralling second stage with an attack from the bunch inside the final 30km, just as the peloton prepared to hit the climb of Challacombe Hill.

Carthy was up it like a whippet as he set about trying to reel in the day’s five-man breakaway.

Alessandro Tonelli and Cameron Meyer were the last two standing and they swept into Barnstaple just a few hundred metres clear of the chasing pack.

Australian track star Meyer eventually won out, although it was Tonelli, thanks to bonus seconds, who took the green leader’s jersey on countback.

“It’s nice to get into the race,” Carthy said. “Fighting, attacking. Rather than just sitting in behind waiting for the sprint.”