Tour of Britain - 2.3

Great Britain, September 1-5, 2004

Photography

Stage 1 - September 1: Manchester - Manchester, 207km
Stage 2 - September 2: Leeds - Sheffield, 172km
Stage 3 - September 3: Bakewell - Nottingham, 192km
Stage 4 - September 4: Newport - Celtic Manor Resort, 160km
Stage 5 - September 5: London - London, 72.5km

Stage 5 - September 5: London - London, 72.5km

Images by Shane Stokes

Philip Deignan (Team Ireland) rides in the bunch.
Philip Deignan (Team Ireland) in action.
Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) leads David McCann (Grant Thornton Team Ireland) in the break.
And again.
Philip Deignan (Team Ireland).
Enrico Degano (Barloworld) wins!
Ciaran Power (Navigators) crosses the line for sixth.
Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) get the spray happening.
Save some to drink, Mauricio!

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) lets loose with the champers.
Eddy Merckx is congratulated by Hugh Roberts.

Images by AFP

High alert - stewards study a photograph of Irish-born former priest Cornelius Horan, who disrupted the Olympic marathon in Athens in August and previously the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The stewards have been told to be on alert for the man.
Race leader Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) zooms past Big Ben, one of London's great landmarks.
Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) take hold of the Colombian flag.
Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) salutes the crowd.
Overall winner Mauricio Ardila receives a kiss from the Lord Mayor of Westminster.
More kisses for Mauricio Ardila, this time from the podium girls.

Images by Ben Atkins

Do you think he wishes he was riding? I do. Museeuw still looks classy.
How much weight has this guy lost? Eddy Merckx slims down for a bid to reclaim his place at the top of the Tour tree with win number six next year!
A spectator for the time being. Dave Millar pokes his head above the parapet and surprisingly isn't lynched by the British public! (nice to see him with a smile on his face again)
Roger Hammond is only too pleased to get the attention his champion's jersey deserves.
Jez Hunt hopes his sprinting legs will do it for him at home.
Local boy Bradley Wiggins is very much in demand from his adoring public, "Show me the medals!" (sorry, Jerry Maguire's on TV!)
Nick Gates sems to be looking forward to a thrash around some of the world's most famous streets.
Michele Bartoli takes autograph hunters in his stride, not a hair out of place.
Charly Wegelius discusses his sprinting prowess with Stefano Zanini.
Tom Boonen feels confident about his chances in today's English kermesse.

Images by Mark Sharon

David Duffield interviews Roger Hammond.
Eddy Merckx and Mauricio Ardila.
Eddy Merckx helps Julian Dean with his new jersey.
Eddy Merckx interviewed.
Eddy Merckx, ready to start the race.
Eddy Merckx with the podium girls.
The Thin Blue Line looks back nervously at the bunch.
Mauricio Ardila relaxing on the start line.
Bradley Wiggins relaxes before the start.
Race fans take break from the action.
Fans watch the race flash by.
Race fans.
The bunch heads up Whitehall towards The Cenotaph.
Julian Dean leads Mauricio Ardila.
The bunch in action.
Bradley Wiggins in the bunch.
Ciaran Power (Navigators) takes his chances with a breakaway.
Roger Hammond right in your face.
Roger Hammond attempts a breakaway.
Nico Mattan (Relax-Bodysol) leads Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) in a last-ditch breakaway.
Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) in action.
Young fans enjoy a high vantage point.
The race is reflected in a fan's sunglasses.
The Tour of Britain passes by the London Eye.
The Tour of Britain passes beneath Big Ben.
Enrico Degano (Barloworld) takes the stage victory.
Race winner Mauricio Ardila embraces fans.
Mauricio Ardila holds the Colombian flag aloft.
Stage winner Enrico Degano is congratulated on the podium.
Points jersey winner, Julian Dean (Credit Agricole), enjoys the attention of the podium girls.
Winner of the sprints competition, Rodney Green (Barloworld), is congratulated on the podium.
Race organiser Tony Doyle congratulates Roger Hammond as the highest placed Brit.
Mountains winner Ben Day (Mr Bookmaker) is congratulated on the podium.
Race winner Mauricio Ardila is congratulated by the podium girls.
Stage winner Enrico Degano joins the jersey winners on the podium.
Race winner Mauricio Ardila showers photographers with champagne.
Roger Hammond looking relaxed after the race.

Stage 4 - September 4: Newport - Celtic Manor Resort, 160km

Images by Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews.com

Race leader Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) before the stage
Roger Hammond (Mr Bookmaker.com) signs autographs in Newport, South Wales
Irish amateur Tim Cassidy gets a rub
Another Irish amateur Philip Deignan gets his radio put in place. He started the day 15th overall
South African champion Ryan Cox (Barloworld) waits for the off
Enthusiastic spectators along the route
The five man breakaway on the second of three laps
The day's destination
Mauricio Ardila takes the stage ahead of Fernandez Moreno (Relax - Bodysol)
The nesxt three finishers were Michele Bartoli (CSC), José Luis Rubiera (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor and Paolo Savoldelli (T-Mobile)
British champion Roger Hammond finishes 11th on a stage he hoped to win
Philip Deignan finishes 19th and moves to 17th overall
Julian Dean (Credit Agricole) leads the points and 'tache contests
Julian Dean on the podium
Mauricio Ardila salutes the crowd...
...then douses them in champagne
Marco Pantani lookalike, anyone?

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

The peloton rolls through Celtic Manor
Mauricio Ardila wins the fourth stage of the Tour of Britain

Stage 3 - September 3: Bakewell - Nottingham, 192km

Images by Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews.com

Young Irish amateur Philip Deignan was race leader on the road during stage three, eventually sitting up and going back to the bunch
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) wins in Nottingham

Images by Imageking.co.uk

The two breakaways Benjamin Noval (USPS) and Victor Rapinski (Navigators Insurance) at Upper Broughton
Brett Lancaster (Panaria) leads the bunch at Upper Broughton

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

Go everyone! Yay! Enthusiastic kids cheer on the start of stage 3
British Minister for Sport Richard Caborn gets a big hand as he drops the flag for the start of stage 3
Are you photographing me? Race leader Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) looks serious
Mauricio Ardila and Pavel Padrnos (US Postal) crest the KOM summit at Wirksworth
Mauricio Ardila stayed comfortably in yellow
Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) holds up the traffic.
The peloton passes through a Derbyshire village
Another young fan waves from the roadside
Mauricio Ardila grabs a feed musette
Benjamin Noval (US Postal) and Viktor Rapinski (Navigators) were caught with just 2km to go
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) claims victory in Nottingham ahead of Paride Grillo (Ceramiche Panaria and Julian Dean (Credit Agricole)
Tom Boonen celebrates his win

Stage 2 - September 2: Leeds - Sheffield, 172km

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

Andre Korff (T-Mobile) struggles up the climb of Holme Moss
Paolo Savoldelli (T-Mobile) attacks on the climb of Snake Pass
Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) surprises the others to win stage 2
Yellow jersey wearer Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) sprays champagne on the podium in Sheffield, as points leader Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (Panaria) watches

Images by Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews.com

Danish champion Michael Blaudzun (CSC) was popular with the fans today.
Philip Deignan (Grant Thornton Team Ireland) rode well on stage 2, finishing 20th. Here he is chatting to official Jack Watson before the race start.
Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) got a massive cheer from the crowd when he arrived to sign on.
Stage one leader Stefano Zanini at the start
Charly Wegelius was relaxed before the depart.....
As was fellow Brit Roger Hammond Here he gets a pre-race coffee
Nice...
The fans were to be found everywhere. Here some spectators get a fine vantage point at the start area.
MrBookmaker.com's Ben Day led for much of the stage. He was recaptured but got the King of the Mountains jersey for his troubles
Big, enthusiastic crowds have been a characteristic of the first two stages of the race
The crowds on the Holme Moss climb
Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) crossed the line alone
Philip Deignan (Grant Thornton Team Ireland) will be 21 next week but his young age didn't prevent him from riding well against the professionals. He attacked on the climb of Holme Moss and ultimately finished 20th on the stage.
Fellow Irishman Ciaran Power was aiming for a good performance today. However he crashed just before Holme Moss and so was out of position when the big move went
Stage winner Ardila on the final podium
Courage personified Jane Tompkinson recently rode from Rome to England on a tandem, despite suffering an incurable form of cancer. She is an inspiration to many.
Ben Day was caught before the end but not before he took the lead in the King of the Mountains competition
The tower of the Sheffield Town Hall
Alejandro Alberto Borrajo took the green points jersey...
....and Ardila the yellow
The perks of the job!
How you doin'?
Champagne celebration
And more...
Stage winner Mauricio Ardila speaks to the press after the finish.

Stage 1 - September 1: Manchester - Manchester, 207km

Images by John Pierce/PhotoSport International

Stefano Zanini (Quick.Step) wins the first stage in Manchester ahead of Kevin Van Impe (R) and Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (L)
Setting it up for a bunch sprint
The bunch spread out on the Nick O'Pendle climb
Rolf Aldag (T-Mobile) in action during the first stage
Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) rides during stage 1 of the Tour of Britain
The peloton tackles the Ramsbottom Rake KOM

Images by Larry Hickmott/British Cycling

Roger Hammond (Mr Bookmaker) signs an autograph
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) interviewed at the start
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) interviewed at the start
Zanini and Savoldelli chat at the start
Duncan Urquhart (Scotland) leads Rodney Green (Barloworld) during their escape
The peloton rides over a steep bridge
Andrea Peron (CSC) and Davide Bramati (Quick.Step) control the bunch