2011 Tour of Britain

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;UCI ProTeams

• GRM – {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
• THR – {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
• LEO – {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
• RAB – {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}
• SKY – {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}}
• VCD – {{UCI team code|VCD|2011}}

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;UCI Professional Continental teams

• APP – {{UCI team code|APP|2011}}
• EUC – {{UCI team code|EUC|2011}}
• TSV – {{UCI team code|TSV|2011}}
• UHC – {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}

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;UCI Continental teams

• EDR – {{UCI team code|EDR|2011}}
• MPT – {{UCI team code|MPT|2011}}
• RAL – {{UCI team code|RAL|2011}}
• RCS – {{UCI team code|RCS|2011}}
• SGS – {{UCI team code|SGS|2011}}
• SKT – {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}}

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;11 September 2011 – Peebles to Dumfries, {{convert|170.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}

A pair of riders – {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}}'s Pieter Ghyllebert and {{UCI team code|SGS|2011}}'s Russell Hampton – made the early breakaway from the field, locking out the top two placings at each of the three intermediate sprint points and the three categorised climbs during the stage. Ghyllebert finished first at the sprints, and thus took the race's first sprints jersey, while Hampton earned the polka-dot jersey for heading the mountains classification, and also earned the award for the day's most combative rider.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-1/results|title=Cavendish gets off the mark in Dumfries|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=11 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2011|first=Rob|last=Lampard}} The breakaway, which had an advantage of six minutes over the field at one point during the stage, was caught with around {{convert|10|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining, which would ultimately set up a sprint finish in Dumfries.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8755952/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Mark-Cavendish-wins-opening-stage.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911194105/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8755952/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Mark-Cavendish-wins-opening-stage.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2011|title=Mark Cavendish wins opening stage|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=11 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2011|first=John|last=MacLeary}}

{{UCI team code|THR|2011}}, {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}} and {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}} moved their riders towards the front of the field, to win the sprint for the line and the ten-second time bonus available for the first rider to complete the stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.tourofbritain.com/_ns_news/default.asp?news_id=202|title=Mark Cavendish wins Stage One of The Tour|date=11 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2011|work=Tour of Britain|publisher=SweetSpot}} As it was, {{UCI team code|THR|2011|nolink=yes}} were the strongest in the closing stages and Mark Renshaw led Mark Cavendish – only racing in the Tour with special dispensation from the Union Cycliste Internationale after his stage 4 exit from the Vuelta a España{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14871366.stm|title=Britain's Mark Cavendish wins stage one for HTC Highroad|date=11 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2011|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC}} – out to claim the stage victory, his first in the race since 2007. The stage victory gave Cavendish the lead in the general classification, and also the points classification, from points gained at the finish. Renshaw finished just behind Cavendish, with {{UCI team code|RAB|2011|nolink=yes}}'s Theo Bos completing the top three placings.

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|General Classification after Stage 1

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;12 September 2011 – Kendal to Blackpool, {{convert|137.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}

Prior to the start of the stage, race organisers cancelled the stage on police advice due to high winds in Northern England, as Hurricane Katia, now a post-tropical cyclone hit the country.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/8756633/Severe-gales-to-batter-Britain-as-Hurricane-Katia-crosses-the-Atlantic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912104056/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/8756633/Severe-gales-to-batter-Britain-as-Hurricane-Katia-crosses-the-Atlantic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2011|title=Severe gales to batter Britain as Hurricane Katia crosses the Atlantic|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=12 September 2011|accessdate=12 September 2011}}

Remained the General Classification after Stage 2

;13 September 2011 – Stoke-on-Trent to Stoke-on-Trent, {{convert|140|km|1|abbr=on}}

Although not as prominent as the previous day, windy conditions caused problems for the riders during the stage, with the field being split into several groups, behind a trio of breakaway riders. {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}'s Boy Van Poppel, {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}}'s Andrew Fenn, and the mountains classification leader Russell Hampton of {{UCI team code|SGS|2011}} formed the day's breakaway, and they accelerated away from the field to a maximum advantage of over three minutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-3/results|first=Rob|last=Lampard|date=13 September 2011|accessdate=14 September 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Boom strikes in Stoke-on-Trent}}{{cite video|people=Porter, Hugh; Smith, Brian|date=13 September 2011|title=Tour of Britain 2011: Stage 3|work=ITV Sport|publisher=ITV|time=16:00–16:15}} The lead trio also took the maximum points from the first two intermediate sprints and the second category climb at Ramshorn. They stayed ahead of the field – and were later joined by {{UCI team code|RCS|2011}} rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke – until just after Gun Hill, where {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}}, {{UCI team code|THR|2011}} and {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}} advanced some of their riders into an echelon of 27 riders.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/sep/13/tour-of-britain-lars-boom|first=William|last=Fotheringham|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian Media Group|date=13 September 2011|accessdate=14 September 2011|title=Lars Boom saddles the wind to pip Mark Cavendish}} After advancing all six of their riders into the echelon, {{UCI team code|SKY|2011|nolink=yes}} sent one of their riders on the attack with around {{convert|15|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining on the stage.

The newly crowned British time trial champion Alex Dowsett attempted to take a solo victory for the second time in a few weeks, after a similar performance at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes a couple weeks prior to the Tour of Britain.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15264_7174391,00.html|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=13 September 2011|accessdate=14 September 2011|title=Boom bursts into Britain lead}} Dowsett was caught within the final {{convert|2|km|1|abbr=on}} of the stage, which allowed several teams to launch mini-attacks on their rivals, in an attempt to break them. Ultimately, it was the {{UCI team code|RAB|2011|nolink=yes}} duo Michael Matthews and Lars Boom that set up the sprint akin to the sprint that Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish accomplished for {{UCI team code|THR|2011|nolink=yes}} in Dumfries in Stage 1. Boom won the stage ahead of Matthews, with Geraint Thomas best of the rest in third for Team Sky, ahead of team-mate Steve Cummings and Cavendish. Boom's win – coupled with bonus seconds on the finish and intermediate sprints – enabled him to take the general classification lead from Cavendish by three seconds.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14894057.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=13 September 2011|accessdate=14 September 2011|title=Dutch rider Lars Boom takes stage win}}

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|General Classification after Stage 3

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;14 September 2011 – Welshpool to Caerphilly, {{convert|183.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}

Just like the previous day's stage, a trio of riders went away from the field to form the day's breakaway. {{UCI team code|RCS|2011}}'s Kristian House, {{UCI team code|EDR|2011}}'s Jack Bauer, and the sprints classification leader Pieter Ghyllebert of {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}} formed the breakaway, and they accelerated away from the field to a maximum advantage of almost six minutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-4/results|first=Rob|last=Lampard|date=14 September 2011|accessdate=15 September 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Hushovd the big cheese in Caerphilly}} The lead trio also took the maximum points from all three intermediate sprints – a result that boosted Ghyllebert's lead in the sprints classification – and the first two categorised climbs of the day, at Llyswen Hill and over the first category climb at the Brecon Beacons.

The field steadily brought back the breakaway, and by the foot of the final climb of the day coming at Caerphilly mountain with just {{convert|5|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining, the field was all back together again.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15264_7176912,00.html|title=Hushovd wins in Wales|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=14 September 2011|accessdate=15 September 2011}} The climb split the field apart so much so, that only 22 riders were in contention of winning the stage at Caerphilly Castle.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/sep/14/thor-hushovd-tour-of-britain|first=William|last=Fotheringham|date=14 September 2011|accessdate=15 September 2011|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian Media Group|title=Thor Hushovd nips past Geraint Thomas to take Tour of Britain stage}} The world road race champion, Thor Hushovd, was set up for the sprint by {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}} team-mate Julian Dean, and proceeded to take the stage victory. Lars Boom, the race leader, finished behind Hushovd, and ahead of Cesare Benedetti, Ian Bibby and Boy Van Poppel. Boom extended his lead in the general classification, thanks to his time bonus of six seconds on the finish line, and also assumed the lead of the points classification from Mark Cavendish.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8763058/Tour-of-Britain-2011-stage-four-Thor-Hushovd-triumphs-in-Caerphilly-as-Lars-Boom-retains-overall-leaders-jersey.html|title=Thor Hushovd triumphs in Caerphilly as Lars Boom retains overall leader's jersey|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=14 September 2011|accessdate=15 September 2011|first=John|last=MacLeary}}

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|General Classification after Stage 4

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;15 September 2011 – Exeter to Exmouth, {{convert|180.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}

After several mini-attacks in the early running of the stage, it was not until around {{convert|40|km|1|abbr=on}} into the stage that the breakaway developed. The breakaway had been instigated by {{UCI team code|RCS|2011}} rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke at the foot of the first climb at Haytor Rocks, and would eventually swell to a total of thirteen riders, who held a maximum advantage of almost six minutes.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14936570.stm|date=15 September 2011|accessdate=16 September 2011|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|title=Renshaw wins stage five in Exmouth}} Tiernan-Locke, as well as winning maximum points at Haytor Rocks, claimed both of the second category climbs that were held later on the stage. As a result of his points on the day, he assumed the lead of the mountains classification from {{UCI team code|SGS|2011}}'s Russell Hampton, who had held the lead of the classification since the opening stage in Scotland.

The field brought back the breakaway quickly, although there was a counter-attack from the break, with Damien Gaudin of {{UCI team code|EUC|2011}} going off the front with {{convert|25|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining. Gaudin's bid for victory was eventually stunted within the closing {{convert|3|km|1|abbr=on}} of the stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-5/results|first=Rob|last=Lampard|date=15 September 2011|accessdate=16 September 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Renshaw shows his form in Exmouth}} {{UCI team code|THR|2011}} made their presence at the front of the field, in a bid to repeat their victory on Stage 1 with Mark Cavendish. However, Cavendish decided not to fully sprint for the line to allow Mark Renshaw – a rider who has led out Cavendish to many of his victories over their time at the team – to take the stage victory. Cavendish led the rest of the field over the line, ahead of Robert Förster, Geraint Thomas and Andrew Fenn. {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}'s Lars Boom maintained his twelve-second lead in the general classification over Thomas, who took the lead of the points classification from Boom.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8766312/Tour-of-Britain-2011-stage-five-Mark-Cavendish-second-to-lead-out-man-Mark-Renshaw-in-HTC-Highroad-one-two.html|title=Mark Cavendish second to lead-out man Mark Renshaw in HTC-Highroad one-two|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=15 September 2011|accessdate=16 September 2011|first=John|last=MacLeary}}

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|General Classification after Stage 5

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;16 September 2011 – Taunton to Wells, {{convert|146|km|1|abbr=on}}

Four riders made up the day's breakaway – {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}}'s Ben Swift, {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}}'s Mark McNally, Paul Voss of {{UCI team code|EDR|2011}} and Lars Bak for the {{UCI team code|THR|2011}} team – but none of the quartet were in great contention to take any of the jerseys during the stage. The day's first intermediate sprint, coming at {{convert|20|km|1|abbr=on}} into the stage, saw several riders fall while contesting the sprint; most notably points classification leader Geraint Thomas and Ian Bibby of {{UCI team code|MPT|2011}}, with the latter forced to abandon the race due to a broken collarbone.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8771294/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Lars-Boom-wins-stage-six-his-second-of-the-race.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918094757/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8771294/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Lars-Boom-wins-stage-six-his-second-of-the-race.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2011|title=Lars Boom wins stage six , his second of the race|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=16 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011|first=John|last=MacLeary}} The sprint itself was won by race leader Lars Boom, putting another three seconds onto his overall lead, prior to the breakaway move, who held station off the front until the closing {{convert|25|km|1|abbr=on}} of the stage, when 17 other riders bridged the gap to them, and provided for a reduced field sprint finish.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-6/results|first=Rob|last=Lampard|date=16 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Boom wins in Wells and extends overall lead}} Boom was the strongest rider in the remaining riders, and comfortably took the stage win, extending his general classification lead to 28 seconds over {{UCI team code|APP|2011}}'s Leopold König, who finished third on the stage.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14954852.stm|title=Lars Boom wins stage six to extend Tour of Britain lead|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=16 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011}} Boom also regained the points classification lead from the delayed Thomas.

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|General Classification after Stage 6

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;17 September 2011 – Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham, {{convert|199.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}

The breakaway was the key to the day's stage, having made an escape from the field after just {{convert|5.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and ultimately held an advantage of almost 90 seconds all the way to the end of the stage. Six riders from six different teams – Gediminas Bagdonas of {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}}, Ian Wilkinson of {{UCI team code|EDR|2011}}, {{UCI team code|EUC|2011}}'s Mathieu Claude, {{UCI team code|TSV|2011}}'s Stijn Neirynck, and riding for British continental teams {{UCI team code|RAL|2011}} and {{UCI team code|SGS|2011}}, Richard Handley and Wouter Sybrandy – were left to fight for the victory themselves, with {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}} ending a pursuit to catch them with around {{convert|30|km|1|abbr=on}} remaining, instead deciding to protect their leader Lars Boom and his lead overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-7/results|first=Rob|last=Lampard|date=17 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Bagdonas wins in Sandringham}} Bagdonas ultimately took the stage win ahead of Wilkinson, Claude and Neirynck, as Boom maintained his lead of 28 seconds in the general classification over {{UCI team code|APP|2011}}'s Leopold König, ahead of the final day's split-stages.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8770912/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Lithuanian-Gediminas-Bagdonas-wins-breakaway-to-take-stage-seven-in-Sandringham.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918085720/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8770912/Tour-of-Britain-2011-Lithuanian-Gediminas-Bagdonas-wins-breakaway-to-take-stage-seven-in-Sandringham.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2011|title=Lithuanian Gediminas Bagdonas wins breakaway to take stage seven in Sandringham|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=17 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011|first=John|last=MacLeary}} Boom and König both finished in the pack led home by Mark Cavendish, 83 seconds behind Bagdonas.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/sep/17/gediminas-bagdonas-tour-of-britain|title=An Post's Gediminas Bagdonas wins stage seven of the Tour of Britain|first=Andy|last=Nicolson|date=17 September 2011|accessdate=17 September 2011|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian Media Group}}

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|General Classification after Stage 7

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;18 September 2011 – London, {{convert|8.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} individual time trial (ITT)

The first of the final day's pair of stages was a short circuit through London, around Whitehall and the Thames Embankment, measuring {{convert|8.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The early benchmark was set by the second rider out on the course, Rick Flens of {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}, with a time of 10' 41" that stood well against the majority of the early runners, and was not bettered until {{UCI team code|EDR|2011}}'s Alexander Wetterhall,{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15264_7186647,00.html|title=Dowsett takes London TT|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}} the former Swedish national time trial champion, broke the timing beam with a time of 10' 33". Just like Flens before him, Wetterhall's time also managed to give him the best time for a while, and it was not until Lieuwe Westra of {{UCI team code|VCD|2011}} that Wetterhall was displaced from the top spot.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9824/Tour-of-Britain-Dowsett-grabs-time-trial-victory-Boom-extends-race-lead.aspx|title=Dowsett grabs time trial victory, Boom extends race lead|first=Shane|last=Stokes|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}}

Westra's time of 10' 19" remained unchallenged for another fifteen minutes – riders outside the top ten in the general classification left the start at one-minute intervals{{cite news|url=http://www.tourofbritain.com/_ns_news/default.asp?news_id=222|title=Individual Time Trial Start Times|date=17 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011|work=Tour of Britain|publisher=SweetSpot}} – until {{UCI team code|SKY|2011}}'s Alex Dowsett went round the course some five seconds quicker than Westra did.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/530167/dowsett-takes-tour-of-britain-time-trial-as-boom-sets-up-overall-win.html|title=Dowsett takes Tour of Britain time trial as Boom sets up overall win|first=Nigel|last=Wynn|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Limited}} Dowsett's time was ultimately good enough for the stage victory, for his first victory in the race. As the top ten took to the course in two-minute intervals, it was Dowsett's team-mate Steve Cummings that made up the most ground on time, as he finished nine seconds off Dowsett's time, a result that would lift him from fifth place to second place in the general classification. Despite Cummings' position gain, he lost four seconds to race leader Lars Boom, as he finished the course marginally quicker than Westra, to claim second place on the stage.{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18092011/58/dowsett-wins-time-trial-boom-closes-victory.html|title=Dowsett wins time trial, Boom closes on victory|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}}

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|General Classification after Stage 8a

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;18 September 2011 – London, {{convert|88|km|1|abbr=on}}

The race's final stage was held over the same circuit as the individual time trial that had taken place hours before, with ten laps of the circuit making up the stage distance of {{convert|88|km|1|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/article/roa20110918-Tour-of-Britain-Stage-8b-Report-0|title=Tour of Britain – Stage 8b Report|work=britishcycling.org.uk|publisher=British Cycling|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}} As had been the case in many of the week's stage, a rider from the {{UCI team code|SKT|2011}} team made their way into the stage breakaway, with Ronan McLaughlin latterly joined by {{UCI team code|RCS|2011}} rider Kristian House towards the end of the first lap of the circuit, but their advantage never exceeded more than 40 seconds as {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}} and {{UCI team code|THR|2011}} looked to keep the gap at a minimum in preparation for the finish.

After starting the stage in dry conditions, rain started to fall towards the end of the eighth lap of the race, providing the race's 79 remaining riders with an added danger in the closing stages. House attacked off McLaughlin on the final lap, but was eventually swallowed up by the main field prior to the bunch sprint at the finish. Robert Förster of {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}} led the sprint out ahead of Mark Renshaw and Geraint Thomas, but it was Mark Cavendish, who turned into the final straight in fifth position, who took the stage victory ahead of Renshaw – {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}'s third one-two finish of the Tour – and allowed Cavendish to head to the UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark on a high. Lars Boom finished in the main field to seal the race victory, and he became the first Dutch rider to win the Tour of Britain.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1-2/stage-8b/results|title=Boom wins Tour of Britain|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}} Despite his overall victory, Boom surrendered the victory in the points classification on the finish to Thomas, after his fourth place on the stage behind Cavendish, Renshaw and Förster.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14966707.stm|title=Boom in gold after Cavendish win|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=18 September 2011|accessdate=18 September 2011}}

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|Final General Classification

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{{reflist|group=N}}

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{{Commons category|2011 Tour of Britain}}

• {{official website|http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/default.asp}}

{{Tour of Britain}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tour Of Britain, 2011}}

2011

Tour of Britain

Tour of Britain

Category:September 2011 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:2011 in sport in London