5th Tour of Britain - 2.1

Great Britain, September 7-14, 2008

Photography

Stage 8 - September 14: Blackpool - Liverpool, 110km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR) takes his third stage win when the race finished in Liverpool on Sunday
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR) takes his third stage win when the race finished in Liverpool on Sunday
Evan Oliphant and Tom Barras (Plowman Craven) drive the bunch along the sea front at Lytham St Annes on Sunday morning - chased by a local youngster on his bike
The bunch goes through Liverpool on Sunday
The bunch passes by the Liver Building in Liverpool on Sunday
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) beats Julian Dean (Garimin Chipotle) and Robbie Hunter (Barloworld) to the finish line in Liverpool
Allesandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) opens up the sprint in the final 200m battlking with L to R - Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle), Matt Goss (CSC Saxobank) and Rob Hayles (Team GB) at the finish in LIverpool on Sunday
Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) gets kisses from the presentation hostesses Nicola and Sophie after he won the eight day race on Sunday
Lequatre has the yellow jersey for keeps!
Geoffroy Lequatre delighted to have won the Tour of Britain
Champagne time for Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) after he wins the final yellow jersey as winner of the Tour of Britain
Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) winner of the Tour of Britain
The riders on the start line of the final stage from Blackpool to Liverpool
The jersey winners line up in Liverpool on Sunday - Danilo Di Luca - Team LPR Brakes (Mountains), Geoffroy Lequatre - Agritubel (Race winner - yellow jersey), Edvald Boasson Hagen - Team Columbia (Sprints) and Matt Goss - CSC Saxobank (Points)
Deigo Caccia (Barloworld) up at the Lucky Star Casino in Blackpool
Dean Downing (Rapha Condor - Recycling) leads Magnus Backstedt (Garmin Chipotle) and Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello CandiTV) in the break in Liverpool
Dean Downing (Rapha Condor - Recycling) leads Magnus Backstedt (Garmin Chipotle) and Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello CandiTV) in the break in Liverpool
Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) drives on at the front of the bunch in pursuit of the breakaway group
Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) sits tight on his way to get the yellow jersey for keeps
Magnus Backstedt (Garmin Chipotle) goes for broke and attacked on his own with three laps to go
Bradley Wiggins leads the bunch around the finishing circuit in Liverpool

Stage 7 - September 13: Glasgow - Drumlanrig Castle, 153km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Manxman Jonathan Bellis (Team CSC Saxobank) hoping to be offered a contract with the team for 2009
Tom Southam (Team GB) enjoys a quick cup on the start line
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) waiting for the flag to drop
An Post Sean Kelly's Stephen Gallagher with fans Alan and Andy Corkill, on the race for all eight days
Stephen Gallagher (An Post Sean Kelly team) follows a long family tradition of bagpipe playing
Rock Racing's Victor Hugo Pena tries out the bagpipes in Glasgow
Big Magnus Backstedt (Gamin Chipotle) doesn't actually scare small children
Oscar Sevilla and Victor Hugo Pena (Rock Racing) , Peter Williams (Pinarello CandiTV) and Jonny McEvoy (Team GB) lead the bunch out from the Glasgow start
Daryl Impey enjoys a joke with team mate Robbie Hunter (Barloworld)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) distances the group on the way to his third win.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) takes his third stage victory of the eight day Tour of Britain
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) celebrates his third stage victory after he crossed the line at Drumlanrig Castle
The bunch are strung out in pursuit of the leaders as they climb up the Mennock Pass
Greg Henderson (Team Columbia) drives the breakaway group on the ascent of the Mennock Pass
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) makes it a hat-trick of vitories when he outsprinted his breakaway companions to win the stage at Drumlanrig Castle
Greg Henderson (Team Columbia) and Danilo Di Luca (Team LPR Brakes) lead the breakaway group up the Mennock Pass on stage seven of the Tour of Britain
Greg Henderson (Team Columbia) and Danilo Di Luca (Team LPR Brakes) lead the breakaway group up the Mennock Pass on stage seven of the Tour of Britain
Steve Cummings (Barloworld) takes off in pursuit of the leaders on the Mennock Pass
Danilo Di Luca leads the break on the Mennock Pass
Danilo Di Luca (Team LPR Brakes) drives the break on the ascent of the Mennock Pass

Stage 6 - September 12: Darlington - Gateshead, 156km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Italian Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) wins his second stage in the Tour in a frantic sprint finish in Gateshead ahead of Britain's Rob Hayles (Team GB) and Norways Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia)
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) takes his second stage when the race finished in Gateshead on Friday
The main field climbs up the third category climb at Langley with the Agritubel team riding on the front in defence of the yellow jersey
The four-man breakaway Pete Williams (Pinarello CandiTV), Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven), Bradley McGee (Team CSC Saxobank) and Diego Caccia (Barloworld) arrive at the summit of the third category climb at Langley with over two minutes lead on the main field
Bradley McGee (Team CSC Saxobank) leads the break over the climb at Langley
Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) rides comfortably in the key break of the day on the road to Gateshead
The Agritubel team ride on the front of the bunch to keep close to the breakaway group
Bradley McGee (Team CSC Saxobank) leads the Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven RT) and Pete Williams (Pinarello CandiTV)
Stephen Gallagher (An Post - Sean Kelly Team) leads the bunch on the way to Gateshead
Stephen Gallagher (An Post Sean Kelly Team) puts the hammer down on the front of the bunch in pursuit of the breakaway group
Diego Caccia (Barloworld) firing on all cylinders as he crosses the gap to the leaders
Diego Caccia (Barloworld) crosses the gap to the leaders
Bradley McGee (CSC) drives the break
The Agritubel team ride tempo on front of the bunch
Rob Hayles (Team GB) and Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) on the front of the charging bunch in Gateshead in the final 200m
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR) was delighted with his form and his second win in the Tour of Britain
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) now leading the points competition after six days in the saddle
Race leader Geoffory Lequatre (Agritubel) stays in yellow
Pete Williams (Pinarello CandiTV) won the combativity away for the stage
The race finish area in Gateshead

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

Bradley Wiggins (Team Columbia) racing on home soil.
Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel), overall leader of the race.
Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) sitting comfortable mid peloton.
David Millar leads his Garmin-Chipotle-presented by H30, Magnus Backstedt through a corner.
Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing) mixing it up in the convoy.
Hamilton off the front.
Santiago Botero (Rock Racing) leads Stuart O'Grady (CSC-Saxo Bank).

Stage 5 - September 11: Kingston upon Hull - Dalby Forest, 168km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Bulldogs Max and Molly all dressed up to support Ben Swift (Team GB) currently in the King of the Mountains lead.
Travis Meyer (SouthAustralia.com/AIS) no sign of aggressive behaviour before the stage started.
The SouthAustralia.com/AIS team line up for a photo before the start.
Emilien Berges (Agritubel) has found a new fan in Britain.
The field leaves Hull heading for the Humber Bridge.
The peloton passes under the Humber Bridge before turning to cross it into Lincolnshire.
Race leader Geoffroy Lequarte crosses the Humber Bridge.
The race goes through the 400 year old arch in Beverly.
The race leaves Hull.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) takes his second stage in as many days.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) wins his second stage of the week.
A tough day for some of the late finishers - Tom Murray (Pinarello CandiTV) comes just behind the main field.
Victor Hugo Pena (Rock Racing) takes fourth place ahead of Julan Dean (Garmin Chipotle) and Manxman Jonathan Bellis (CSC Saxobank).
Matt Goss (CSC Saxobank) in the green jersey as points leader after five stages.
Matt Goss (CSC Saxobank) gets kisses and the green jersey as points leader after five days.
Geoffory Lequarte (Agritubel) in yellow for at least another day.
Ben Swift (Team GB) keeps the E.ON Mountains jersey - He really is older than he looks.
The ones to watch - A Rapha Condor rider has the jersey leaders marked on his stem.

Stage 4 - September 10: Worcester - Stoke-on-Trent, 156km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

The Breakaway group on the outskirts of Telford
Jay Thomson (MTN Energade) and Robbie Hunter (Barloworld) share a joke - both riders are from the same town in South Africa
The MTN Energade team lines up before the start of stage four.
Italian sprint star Alessandro Petacchi (LPR Brakes) ahead of the stage start in Worcester
Danilo Di Luca (Team LPR) hides behind his sunglasses.
Daniel Lloyd (An Post - Sean Kelly team) leads the break on the outskirts of Telford
Daniel Lloyd (An Post - Sean Kelly team) leads the break on the outskirts of Telford
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia) jumps across to the leaders on the climb at High Habberley
Nicolas Vogondy leaads the the yellow jersey Emilien Berges (Agritubel) on the outskirts of Telford.
Ben Swift delighted to get his mountains jersey back
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) happy in victory
Boasson Hagen does it in Stoke on Trent
Boasson Hagen celebrates victory
It was touch and go but Boasson Hagen made it
Overall leader Geoffroy Lequatre at the press conference
Danilo Di Luca (Team LPR) crosse the line ahead of Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle) to take third place on the stage
The jersey holders after stage four: Race leader Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel), points leader Roger Hammond (Team Columbia), sprints leader Giairo Ermeti (LPR), mountains leader Ben Swift (Team GB)
Yellow jersey Geoffory Lequarte (Agritubel) gets kisses as race leader after four stages
Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel) leads the yellow jersey and the bunch on the outskirts of Telford
Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) had bike trouble yesterday which lost him the chance in the overall classification

Stage 3 - September 9: Chard - Burnham-on-Sea, 185km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Great Britain team mates Andy Tennant and Ben Swift lead the break on a small climb in the village of Uffculme
King of the Mountains leader Kristian House (Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) in the break ahead of Australian Wesley Sulzberger (SouthAustralia.com/AIS)
The main field arrives in the Devon village of Uffculme
Russell Downing (Pinarello CandiTV) studies the plan of the finish before the stage started in Chard
Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC Saxobank) leads the main field in Devon through the village of Uffculme
LPR Brakes ride tempo on the front to keep the break at a reasonable distance
Ben Swift (Team GB) on the front of the early break on stage three
Emilien Berges (Agritubel) wins the stage into Burnham on Sea
Geoffroy Lequarte congratulates a delighted team mate Emilien Berges after he won stage three into Burnham on Sea and took over the yellow jersey as race leader
Emilien Berges (Agritubel) celebrates his victory from a lone break in Burnham on Sea
Emilien Berges (Agritubel) pulls on the yellow jersey as race leader after he won stage three into Burnham on Sea
Emilien Berges (Agritubel) talks to journalists at the post stage press conference
Lucky Kristian House (Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) gets kisses from the podium hostesses as he is presented with the king of the mountains jersey
Roger Hammond (Team Columbia) takes over the green jersey as point’s leader on the race
Geoffroy Lequarte (Agritubel) wins the group sprint to take second place on the stage
Emilien Berges's (Agritubel) first task as race leader is to sign some yellow jerseys

Stage 2 - September 8: Milton Keynes - Newbury, 145km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Irish Champion Daniel Martin (Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30) in his new team jersey signing autographs at the start.
The podium girls.
Rock Racing’s new jersey design for stage two.
Bradley Wiggins (Team Columbia) at the front of the bunch on Oving Hill.
Bradley Wiggins (Team Columbia) at the front of the bunch on Oving Hill with CSC Saxobank.
MTN Energade's leads the break up to the summit at Oving Hill.
The bunch climbs up to the summit at Oving Hill.
Goss wins the sprint into Newbury.
Goss beats the big teams’ sprinters in the Berkshire town of Newbury .
Mountains leader Kristian House (Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) , race leader Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) and sprints leader Danilo Di Luca.
Stage Winner Matt Goss (Team CSC Saxobank) acknowledges the warm applause.
The Mayor of Newbury gives stage winner Matt Goss information about the town.
Happy House- Kristian House gets kisses and keeps the king of the mountains jersey.
Kisses for Alessandro Petacchi (LPR Brakes) as he gets the green jersey as point’s leader on the race.
Alessandro Petacchi (Team LPR Brakes) pulls on the yellow jersey after the finish of stage two in Newbury.

Stage 1 - September 7: London - London, 86km

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Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

Allessandro Petacchi (LPR Brakes) wins stage one by Westminster Bridge in London.
Petacchi (LPR Brakes) makes a successful come back to competition.
This is the first time Petacchi has ridden in his new team LPR Brakes colours.
Big Ben watches over the peloton.
Anders Lund (CSC-Saxobank) leads the break.
Romain Feillu (Agritubel) signs on to defend the title he won last year.
Simon Clarke (SouthAustralia.com /AIS) leads Italian Danilo Di Luca in the break as they reach Westminster.
Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven) stays with the pace in the main field.
The Topsport Vlaanderen team hit the front to reduce the leaders' margin.
Britain’s, Roger Hammond (Team Columbia) riding on home soil.
Tom Southam (Great Britain) at the head of the race after he joined the break.
Agritubel on the front as the bunch is all together with one lap to go..
Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) during his solo attempt to win the stage.
CSC Saxobank stagiere Jonathan Bellis at the sign on desk being looked after by Aussies Matt Goss and Stuart O'Grady.
Garmin Chipotle's national champions Daniel Martin (Ireland) and Julian Dean (New Zealand).
Nicolas Vogondy and his Agritubel team mates meet the Tour of Britain mascot.