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Stage 5 - 2010 Tour of Britain
September 11-18; UCI 2.1 | Home Page for News & Reports
Stage 5: Tavistock to Glastonbury (110 miles, Sept 15)
High on the Dartmoor plateau, the first attack of the day goes away led by Pieter Ghyllebert
Young Italian rider Marco Frapporti (Colnago-CSF Inox) was the winner of the fifth stage of the Tour of Britain after a brave attack in the last few kilometres. He was part of an 8-man break which escaped early in the stage and never looked like being caught. Amongst his fellow escapees were Bradley Wiggins and Dan Martin - Wiggins took second.
The fifth stage of the Tour of Britain marked the last day or truly hilly riding, with a crossing of Dartmoor coming straight after the start in Tavistock, Devon. After the crossing of moor, the route quickly descended for a more rolling second half to day, passing to the north of Exeter, before entering Somerset, with the climb of Rosemary Hill - in the Blackdown Hills - the last main obstacle before the run in to the finish at Glastonbury in the Somerset Levels.
Below: Exclusive photos from the race action by Larry Hickmott
With the autumnal winds again buffeting the race, the crossing of Dartmoor, an exposed road at the best of times, was pretty testing and an early break formed, including the most crowd-shy rider of the Tour to date, Dan Martin (Garmin-Transitions). He had Iker Camano (Endura), Pieter Ghyllebert (AN Post Sean Kelly), Michael Golas (Vacansoleil), Brad Wiggins (Sky), Lucas Haedo (Saxo Bank), Marco Frapporti (Colnago-CSF Inox) and Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) for company. They led over the first King of the Mountains on Dartmoor and began to open up a considerable gap on the main field.
As the race approached the final big climb of the day, Rosmary Hill, they had a lead of some 7 minutes over a fragmenting peloton. Wiggins in particular was looking strong, briefly riding clear on the lower slopes of the climb, underlining his determination to make a mark. In contrast, Haussler began to struggle and soon after he was further detuned by a puncture, he retired from the race, leaving the lead group standing at
Two of the race's busiest riders, this year, Richie Porte (Saxobank) and Patrick Sinkewitz (ISD-Neri Giambenini), put in a brave bid to bridge across to the break, leaving the front group of the main field on the ascent of Rosemary Hill. However, with the yellow jersey, Michael Albasini, in that group, they were always going to be closely monitored and were soon brought back into the fold.
A lone attack off the yellow jersey group by Ronan Van Zandbeek (Skil-Shimano) was a little more successful and he soon found himself over three minutes clear, but still at least as much again behind the lead group.
With some 10km to go to the finish, and with a gap of still well over three and a half minutes over the yellow jersey group, Bradley Wiggins initiated the inevitable process of attack and counter attack amongst the leaders. Knowing they were safe from being caught, the focus changes from the teamwork of the previous couple of hours to self interest and a determination to win the stage.
Wiggins was soon brought back, but Martin and Frapporti counter-attcked and soon had a gap of ten and then 20 seconds. Frapporti attacked again and dropped Martin, who must have been exhausted by his effort in the last couple of days.
With a couple of kilometers to the line Wiggins went after Frapporti, but couldn't prevent the 25 year old Italian from the Irish Colnago-CSF Inox team from winning. Wiggins came across the line 13 seconds down to take second, with the remains of the break led in by Lucas Sebastien Haedo at 32 seconds. Ronan Van Zandbeek came in alone in 8th, having remained stranded between groups right to the end.
Pim Lighart led in the yellow jersey group at over 9 minutes down, with HTC Columbia's Michael Albasini retaining his overall lead. However, HTC Columbia face a tough run in to the final stage in London on Saturday, with several riders suffering from stomach troubles. Even worse, they lost Tony Martin who withdrew midway through the stage, leaving them with just four riders.
Riders in the break tuck in to lunch!
Interviews pre and post race
Bradley Wiggins: "It wasn't to be - obviously on the final run in when the attacks started everyone was hesitating and looking at me. But when we got down to that last section there I was in my element, just sticking it in the right hand gutter and I could have been on the ergo in the garage at home.....it comes down to sorting the men from the boys - they either hold your wheel or they don't, it's the wind that causes that, but yes, I just ran out of road, really, couldn't get him back in time."
Simon Richardson: A rider pictured in the action most days at the front of the race is Sigma Sport Specialized rider Simon Richardson. On using home roads for stage 5, he said “It’s cool, they are good roads and there is always something nice about riding on roads you know. I am looking forward to the finish in Glastonbury today. A few of my mates are coming down and it’s going to be good.”
“The Tour has been good for me. I am feeling quite good and it is nice being active and up there. I haven’t achieved my objectives yet but there are three stages to go. Yesterday (stage 4) was a funny start and it split because of that descent (tricky in the extreme – Ed). So that was about positioning at the top of the climb. There are two ways to make the break and that is to be bloody good and know which move is the right one or be persistent and on the Swansea stage, I was just persistent and I was there when it counted.”
“The first 70k of stage 4 was really hard because that was when all the possible GC moves were going. Once those three went and Columbia were controlling it, it was okay. Everyone was gagging for it to slow down and there were some really tired legs at the end there.”
“I felt a lot better at the end of stage 4 than I did at the end of the Swansea stage. I made a bit of a mess of that Swansea one so it was nice to start feeling like I’m coming round. In East Anglia, it could be easier but if the wind blows, who knows. Potentially though it could be two bunch sprints there.”
Rob Partridge (Endura, 8th overall): “I have moved up and so it was a good thing getting into that break on stage 2. The race so far has suited my riding style, real strong man stages and I haven’t really had to do anything except hold the wheels. The form is good and I’m pretty happy. The key now is to stay attentive and concentrate. There are still three days left and a lot can happen.”
“The boys are helping me out and it’s good.”
“Expectations before the Tour were to go for a stage and do what I have done in the past and get in the breaks but once you get in a GC position, everything changes. I’m just happy with the way I have ridden.”
Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp): Talking about getting in the early break on stage 4, the former British Champion said “I was annoyed that ended up getting as big as it did. I thought when we had 40 seconds, I thought it was the one but sure enough, when the yellow jersey group got across to it, it was a bit annoying because it wasn’t the break anymore but the first peloton….”
“When you are up there with so many guys from Columbia, Sky, Saxo Bank and Skil and they are launching them off, you can only go with so many. I went with a couple but it wasn’t the one that got the gap and had three minutes. Even though you knew it was going to come back…. When it did, I had a go but Saxo Bank were quickly on it and started chasing straight away.”
“When I knew it was going to be a bunch kick, I stayed safe. I am out of the overall so I am trying to go for a stage. Whether a stage is hilly or flat, I can race them so it is just a matter of getting away in a group that is allowed to get to the finish. It can be the luck of the draw. The first one I went with on stage 4, went away. The day before, I went with 10 or 15 little groups and none of them stuck.”
Marco Frapporti (Stage 5 winner): Translated by Tim Harris as interviews were done in Italian. “I am normally a team rider so most of the year have been riding in support of my team but Beletti got a virus and had to stop, so then today I was able to take my own chance which I did.”
Nice colour co-ordination between Marco Frapporti, the podium and the podium staff
“I attacked with 10 kilometres to go with Dan Martin. With 5 kilometres to go, there was a false flat, so I jumped then and Dan Martin could not go with me and I stayed away. I didn’t even look back then because it was an all or nothing situation so I just put my head down and kept driving”.
“This is the first time I have been here and it was a very nice area and up and down. It was very hard to start with and originally there were 15 riders and then the group came together and a group of four went away. Then Haussler arrived and then Wiggins. So then Haussler stopped and after that it was hard and splitting over the hills.”
“It was a good atmosphere on the stage with a lot of people cheering us and it was also warmer.”
Michael Albersini: (Yellow jersey) "To defend the jersey on a stage like this was really special and I'd like to stay thanks to my team-mates."
An occupational hazard for the pro cyclist - local livestock on the move
Marco Frapporti (Colnago-CSF Inox) wins, with runner-up Brad Wiggins just visible over his right shoulder
Brief Results (Full Results)
Stage Results
1 Marco Frapporti Colnago-CSF Inox 04:16:10
2 Bradley Wiggins Sky Pro Cycling Team at 00:13
3 Lucas Sebastien Haedo Team Saxo Bank at 00:32
4 Iker Camano Endura Racing st
5 Michael Golas Vacansoleil Pro Cycling st
6 Pieter Ghyllebert AN Post Sean Kelly at 00:50
7 Dan Martin Garmin-Transitions at 00:51
8 Ronan Van Zandbeek Skil-Shimano at 06:36
9 Pim Lighart Vacansoleil Pro Cycling at 09:18
10 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen st
General Classification after stage 5
1 Michael Albasini Team HTC-Columbia 19:53:09
2 Richie Porte Team Saxo Bank at 01:28
3 Borut Bozic Vacansoleil Pro Cycling at 01:32
4 Greg Henderson Sky Pro Cycling Team at 01:36
5 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil Pro Cycling at 01:42
6 Patrick Sinkewitz ISD-Neri Giambenini at 02:08
7 Christian Meier Garmin-Transitions at 02:30
8 Robert Partridge Endura Racing at 02:32
9 Koen De Kort Skil-Shimano at 02:43
10 Marco Frapporti Colnago-CSF Inox at 03:36
