Tanfield the home hero as great escape seals victory
Harry Tan field defied the odds to become the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire as t he break away prevailed in Doncaster.
The 182- kilometre stage from Beverley was virtually pan- flat for the last 90km and looked tailor-made fora sprint field which included the likes of Mark Cavendish.
But the peloton misjudged the day’s break and paid the price as Great Ayton’s Tanfield used the skills shown in winning time trial silver in the Commonwealth Games last month to take victor y on South Parade.
“It still hasn’t sun kin ,” said the 23- year- old, who rides for Canyon Eisberg.
“Coming over the finish line I was like, do I celebrate? I thought Ice lebrated early, and Alistair [ Slater] was going to come back at me. It’s just amazing. I never ever dreamt it would happen. Everyone was committed, it was a solid day out. I can’t believe we pulled it off.”
J LT Condor’ s S later was second with Mike Cu ming of Madison Genesis completing an all- British podium.
Tanfield will start today’s 149km stage from Barnsley to a summit finish on the Cow and Calf outside Ilkley in the overall leader’s blue jersey, but also collected the points leader’ s green jersey and the grey jersey as the most active rider of the day.
While Tanfield celebrated, others were left to wonder how a six- man breakaway – which never led by much more than five minutes – stayed clear.
“It should have been [ an easy catch],” said Ben Swift, racing for Great Britain.
“But when you look at it, there were strong guys up there so full credit to them.
“I don’t know if there was panic, it’ s just the way it was. Maybe we underestimated the strength of the break.”