Controversial finish in Blyth as stage win is overturned

Team Sky’s Elia Viviani was awarded victory on stage two of the Tour of Britain after Edvald Boasson Hagen was stripped of the win in a controversial finish in Blyth.

Boasson Hagen (Team Dimension Data), beaten in a photo finish on day one, crossed the line in Blyth first yesterday but suffered more heartache as he was relegated for deviating from his line in the sprint. Boasson Hagen had put on the leader’s green jersey on the podium before the decision was made.

Viviani gestured to the Norwegian after crossing the line in second, feeling he had been impeded and, more than 40 minutes after the stage had finished, it was confirmed the Italian had won and taken the green jersey. Boasson Hagen, a two-time Tour of Britain winner, had been released by lead-out man Mark Renshaw with just under 200 metres left of the 211 kilometres route.

Meanwhile, four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is in Britain’s long list of riders for the Road World Championships in Norway from 17-24 September.

Froome, currently leading La Vuelta a Espana as he bids to become only the third man to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same season, hopes to compete in the hilly individual time trial in Bergen depending on his condition after the Spanish race ends next weekend. However, he is not expected to take part in the road race as he does not believe the course suits him.

Britain can choose from a 13-man long list which includes current British road and time trial champion Steve Cummings, and former world champion Mark Cavendish, who is participating in the Tour of Britain this week in a bid to prove his fitness after the shoulderinjurywhichended his Tour de France.

Also included are Adam Blythe, Mark Christian, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Pete Kennaugh, Ben Swift and Geraint Thomas. Britain will take nine riders to compete in the road race, and two to compete in the time trial.