Place Name: Sea Road
Address: 2 Sea Road, Felixstowe, IP11 2AU, United Kingdom
Details: September 8, 2024
The flattest stage of the week covers just under 160KM and traverses East Anglia to finish in Felixstowe via Lowestoft.
An interesting collection of riders attacked to make the break including Tom Pidcock of Ineos, Pello Bilbao of Bahrain-Victorious, Mathias Bregnhøj of Sabgal-Anicolor, and Jacob Scott of REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland. Their lead was kept in check by Israel-Premier Tech at 2 minutes 30 seconds with 100KM to go. DSM-Firmenich piled on the pressure with 94KM to go as they went through Framlingham. Soudal Quickstep was caught in a split with their the multi-stage winner, Paul Magnier, stuck in the second group.
The break was caught with 88KM to go as counter attacks went immediately. The attacks were relentless, shredding the race to pieces. A group of around 50 riders made up the front group with the rest of the bunch chasing 90 seconds behind. At the intermediate sprint point with 68KM to go, Tom Donnenwirth of Decathlon AG2R Development Team took the sprint for 3 bonus seconds, moving him on to the virtual podium. Mark Donovan of Q36.5 got pushed off the road for a moment and none of his teammates were able to organize well enough to take the seconds away from the French rider.
A large chase group caught the front with 40KM to go but Magnier was still missing which gave hope to all of the other fast men. The merge reenforced Israel-Premier Tech's strength at the front of the race and they took control. The final set of intermediate sprint bonus seconds came on offer with 33KM to go. Q36.5 were out for redemption and formed a line of five riders for the lead out. Donnenwirth, Joseph Blackmore of Israel-Premier Tech, and Jelte Krijnsen of Q36.5 were all across the road as they threw their bikes at the line. Krijnsen took the sprint but Donnenwirth got second place which solidified his spot on the final podium. A number attacks, including three from Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quickstep, went after the sprint but nothing stuck, leaving the bunch to position for a final sprint. Uno-X Mobility had the most riders poised for the lead out but Israel-Premier Tech were the ones at the front through the final corner at 800M to go. Jake Stewart did an incredibly long last effort and dropped Ethan Vernon off just before 200M from the line. Vernon launched but he had Matevž Govekar of Bahrain-Victorious and Ben Swift of Ineos in a line beside him. It was a 200M seated drag race taken by Govekar by half a wheel. Rasmus Pedersen of Decathlon AG2R Development Team came with a head of steam to take second ahead of Swift in third and Vernon in fourth. Stephen Williams secured the overall GC win, 16 seconds ahead of Oscar Onley and 36 seconds ahead of Tom Donnenwirth.
Tags: Tour of Britain, 2024, September, Stage 6, Tour of Britain 2024, Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Tom Pidcock, Pello Bilbao, Mathias Bregnhøj, Jacob Scott, Tom Donnenwirth, Joseph Blackmore, Jelte Krijnsen, Remco Evenepoel, Jake Stewart, Ethan Vernon, Matevž Govekar, Ben Swift, Rasmus Pedersen, Stephen Williams, Oscar Onley