Kiwi Bevin extends his advantage in Tour of Britain

WELLINGTON: A powerful late move on stage four has enabled New Zealander Patrick Bevin to extend his lead in the Tour of Britain.

Bevin crossed the line third in the sprint finish into Royal Leamington Spa yesterday, claiming a 4sec time bonus to hold a 4sec advantage from Australia’s Cameron Meyer at the halfway point of the race.

The BMC team rider slipped to the front with 400m remaining and although eventually swept up by renowned German sprinter Andre Greipel, he held on for his third straight topthree finish.

BMC squad rider Bevin also holds the points leader’s jersey.

‘‘I was thinking if you are going to lead out into that last corner with 350m to go, you’re not going to win but you may run a podium and get some more time.

‘‘When it got messy in that last kilometre. Jempy Drucker dropped me in there with about 400m to go and I just came up on the inside of the corner and thought it was no good to be near the front, better to be on the front and just go.’’

It was a ‘‘nice little result at the end of the day’’.

Stage five today is a 14km team time trial.

‘‘It’s actually what we came here to target so up until now, it has all been a bit of a bonus.

‘‘It’s a hard one to read. If any team has a bad day they will lose lots of time and that’s the overall [lead] over.’’

Two of Bevin’s countryman also featured prominently. Hayden McCormick, of One Pro Cycling, was part of the main breakaway. He was the last rider caught with about 3km remaining.

WantyGroupe Gobert team member Dion Smith finished just behind Bevin in the leading group, putting him in 14th and 50sec behind his countryman in the general classification.

At the Vuelta a Espana, New Zealander George Bennett retained 10th overall after stage 11.

Bennett, who rides for Dutch team LottoNL Jumbo, scrambled well to come home 20th in what was an actionpacked last few kilometres.

The Nelson rider remained 47sec off tour leader Simon Yates, of Britain. — RNZ