Description
September 6, 2023
Tour of Britain 2023 🇬🇧 – Stage 4 – Sherwood Forest – Newark-on-Trent : 166,6 km
The Tour of Britain is the UK’s most established stage-race and one of the biggest chances for semi-professional domestic riders to race alongside some of the top names in the pro peloton.
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September 6, 2023
Tour of Britain 2023 🇬🇧 – Stage 4 – Sherwood Forest – Newark-on-Trent : 166,6 km
The Tour of Britain is the UK’s most established stage-race and one of the biggest chances for semi-professional domestic riders to race alongside some of the top names in the pro peloton. If a young Brit on a domestic squad can perform well here they may just secure a place on a WorldTour team for the following year. As a result stakes are often high in this race, creating a dogged fight all the way from the start to the finish. Formerly known as the Milk Race, this eight-day event has been through many iterations throughout its 77-year history, with some editions being held exclusively for amateur riders. In the late 80s and 90s the race started to open the door to more professional riders, leading to large pelotons consisting of amateur riders desperate for a pro contract, and professional riders looking to get through the stages in one piece.
Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) took a record breaking fourth sprint win at the Tour of Britain after another textbook lead out from teammate turned domestique Wout Van Aert in Newark-on-Trent.
Jumbo-Visma took the wrong line around a fast left turn with four kilometres to go and so Van Aert was forced to make an effort to position Kooij but the WorldTeam were again dominant and soon moved up to the front.
Kooij lost Van Aert’s wheel but dived under a rider with a kilometre to go to get back to the sweep spot for the sprint.
The Belgian then came off Nathan Van Hooydonck’s wheel, hurt the other sprinters with a long lead out, meaning Kooij only had to kick away in the final 150 metres to win yet again and set a Tour of Britain win record.
Casper van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich) was second, with Ethan Vernon (Great Britain) third.
“You never get used to winning, it’s always nice but also always difficult in sprints,” Kooij said.
“Again the control by the guys was really good. We lost a rider in the final kilometres but we still managed to pull it off. The guys we have here are proven. They know what to do, they’ve got the experience and the power.”
Results :
 took a record breaking fourth sprint win at the Tour of Britain after another textbook lead out from teammate turned domestique Wout Van Aert in Newark-on-Trent.
Jumbo-Visma took the wrong line around a fast left turn with four kilometres to go and so Van Aert was forced to make an effort to position Kooij but the WorldTeam were again dominant and soon moved up to the front.
Kooij lost Van Aert's wheel but dived under a rider with a kilometre to go to get back to the sweep spot for the sprint.
The Belgian then came off Nathan Van Hooydonck's wheel, hurt the other sprinters with a long lead out, meaning Kooij only had to kick away in the final 150 metres to win yet again and set a Tour of Britain win record.
Casper van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich) was second, with Ethan Vernon (Great Britain) third.
"You never get used to winning, it's always nice but also always difficult in sprints," Kooij said.
"Again the control by the guys was really good. We lost a rider in the final kilometres but we still managed to pull it off. The guys we have here are proven. They know what to do, they've got the experience and the power."
<strong>Results : </strong>
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