Dutch rider Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) stormed to victory in the opening stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men, which finished with a dramatic uphill sprint into Southwold.
The 22-year-old outsprinted Norway’s Tord Gudmestad (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) and Hugo Hofstetter (Israel – Premier Tech) to claim his fifth career stage win at the event. Britain’s Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers) was the first home rider in sixth place.
It was also an emotional day for Welshman Geraint Thomas, who overcame a late puncture to finish with the peloton in what is his final professional race before retirement.
The stage began in Woodbridge, with a breakaway of four riders animating the early kilometres before being reeled in. Milan Lanhove of Team Flanders – Baloise claimed the first King of the Mountains jersey after cresting Mill Hill ahead of the pack.
Stage two keeps the race in Suffolk, with a 169.3km route starting and finishing in Stowmarket. Live coverage will be on ITV4 and ITVX from 11am.
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