'It was everything we hoped for'
THE opening Tour of Britain stage in Scunthorpe has been hailed as a huge success.
Australian Chris Sutton won the first stage of the prestigious race for Garmin Slipstream after the Scunthorpe start, clawing back a 12-minute lead opened up in the early stages by two competitors.
Rotherham's Ben Swift, formerly a member of the Scunthorpe Poly Cycling Club, came home third for Team Katusha in stage one but there was disappointment for Team GB hero Bradley Wiggins.
He arrived in York in just 86th place - though Sutton paid tribute to his Garmin teammate playing a key role in the Australian's stage victory.
Sutton, who also won The Prostate Cancer Charity Points jersey, was at the head of dozens of cyclists who arrived in a huge peloton at the finish in an exhilarating sprint with screaming crowds welcoming the riders to York.
Thousands had come out along the route under blazing sunshine and clear skies.
Route director Graham Jones had hoped for a close finish of stage one when planning the route and he was not disappointed.
He said: "It's gone really well. The weather has made a big difference.
"The stage was everything we wanted it to be. It was a fantastic start in Scunthorpe.
"They have done a great job there."
Winner Sutton said the first stage had made for a great race.
"There was a lot of people [in Scunthorpe]. I was quite surprised.
"The weather is quite nice here, so the British are going to take what they get when they can."
13 Comments
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by eddi, da ridz boiz
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 1:55AM
“d4t w0z w3ll sh1t”
by Rick, brigg
Monday, September 14 2009, 11:24PM
“What a pile of POO!!! The whole thing was a complete waste of time and money. The money spent putting the event on could have been spent in a million more productive ways.”
by X woman, here
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:56PM
“The stage was everything we wanted it to be. It was a fantastic start in Scunthorpe.
"They have done a great job there."
.................................It should have been, it cost thousands and thousands to put on, paid by the taxpayer, thats money from some people who are losing jobs and worried how they will pay the mortgage. Utter waste of money by a stupid, inept Council .”
by Lance Legweak, Repairing a puncture
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:49PM
“It was everything I hoped for and I hoped it was going to be crap.”
by HT, Scunny.
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:27PM
“I didnt realise NLC were so sport minded, perhaps now they could help The Iron, or The Scorpions or maybe even the excellently run Scunthorpe Rugby Club. You know, these sports that put Scunny on the map EVERY week with no help from the council. I have no interest in them, but what did Scun Utd get for winning promotion TWICE, a pathetic little ceremony that probably cost 5 and a half quid. Get your priorities right NLC, if you (Well us!) can pay for all this (and I'm not saying they shouldn't) then you can help the other sports as well, or is Cllr Grant only interested in cycling ?........................Thousands lining the route, yes if you multiplied it tenfold, for everyone interested in this there were 100 who did not care less.”
by John H, Scunny
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:24PM
“he he he ......."There was a lot of people [in Scunthorpe]. I was quite surprised."
Cos it's such a dump? why were you surprised?
Good to see the ET employing the best journalists/reporters as usual”
by Sean, Scumthorpe
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:20PM
“"The weather is quite nice here, so the British are going to take what they get when they can."
WHAT??
WHAT is that supposed to mean??”
by JJ, Scunny
Monday, September 14 2009, 1:18PM
“Oooh wow it was soo wonderful, how will I ever get over the excitement of it all. What a truly splendiferous council we have for giving us such an fantasticful weekend. I want to congratulate all for doing their jobs.”
by Lance Legweak, Repairing a puncture
Monday, September 14 2009, 11:32AM
“Big deal, Yawn ZZZZZzzzzz.”
by Old Pete, Crosby
Monday, September 14 2009, 10:32AM
“It's been a fabulous weekend for the region, with Scunthorpe hosting the cycling and the Round the World Clipper race starting from the Humber.on Sunday. Brilliant!!”