September 3, 2004 – Stage 1 of Britain’s 1st national tour in over five years began today at Sport City, in Manchester, home of the world-renowned Manchester United Pro soccer team, and the Manchester Velodrome. The 207 km stage traveled north through the wicked 20% climbs of Ramsbottom and Nick of Pendle, before heading west to the coast in Blackpool. A southeasterly course brought the field back through Preston and up the climb in Belmont, before finishing at Victoria Station in Manchester.

Sixteen teams took the start with an impressive roster including a powerful Quickstep team, British national champion Roger Hammond and his Mr. Bookmaker team, strong squads from T-Mobile, US Postal, and CSC. Nine division 1 teams, 3 TT2 and National teams from the four United Kingdom countries boasted an all-star lineup for the re-inaugurated event. The Navigators Insurance Cycling Team was forced to start with one man short due to the absence of a recovering Mark Walters, but felt confident in the starting five of Baldwin, Louder, Obee, Power, and Rapinski.

After an 8km neutral start, an immediate attack at the 10 km banner saw little reaction from the field, and Barloworld’s Rodney Green, Scotland’s Urquhart, and Wale’s Partridge, began a long escape. As the peloton slowly warmed up, the escapees built a steady lead, reaching over 18 minutes at the 80km mark. With the two steepest climbs behind them, the field then started to take up the pace, and the leaders were soon loosing big chunks of time. Riding, and driving, on the “wrong side” of the road presents some interesting complications for riders and caravan alike, and some heavy civilian traffic in the coastal town of Blackpool forced the peloton to slow the chase a bit. Once through the congestion, the speed increased, and the escapees were brought back with about 15km to go.

A series of attacks in the final 10 kilometers sprung small groups with a solo escape by Navigators Insurance’s Kirk Obee being the most significant until a group of six, including Jeff Louder broke clear with 3 km to go. The group was not committed though and was caught in the last turn as Quickstep set the pace and Stefano Zanini came off teammate Tom Boonan for the win from the bunch. Kevin Van Impe took 2nd with Panaria’s Alejandro Borrajo 3rd. Navigators Ciaran Power was the top Navigators rider in 14th place.

Stage 2

The local handicappers and pundits were predicting that today’s 172km second stage from Leeds to Sheffield would be the Tour of Britain’s most critical day for anyone with General Classification hopes. The course was a general replication of the Leeds Classic, and featured several challenging climbs, including the notorious “Holme Moss, and “Snake Pass”, where the real drama was expected to play out.

In sharp contrast to yesterday’s slow start, a series of attacks and counters sparked a brisk opening pace as the 93 rider peloton snaked through Yorkshire’s narrow country streets leaving Leeds at 55-60km/hr. When the pace finally slowed after 20km, Mr. Bookmaker’s Ben Day escaped, and started a solo journey. The Aussie TT medallist sped away from the field, and soon had a 3-minute advantage. As the pack approached the day’s first serious climb at “Cow and Calf”, Credit Agricole’s Eric Leblacher fired out of the main bunch. Navigators Insurance’s Chris Baldwin alertly followed, and the two were off in pursuit. As the chasing duo crested the stage’s 2nd climb at Oxenhope, they had Day in their sights, and were able to bring him back on the ensuing decent. As the three leaders came together, the gap to the field was over seven minutes, and they quickly formed a cohesive alliance in an effort to maximize the gap.

As the leaders sped through the feed zone at 85km, the gap had grown to 14 minutes, but the peloton was beginning to organize. With Quickstep, T-Mobile, US Postal, and CSC working in concert, the gap was starting to fall. The breakaways continued their flight, trying to maintain as much of their gap as possible, with the imposing Holme Moss looming ahead. The three were in perfect harmony on the spectator packed route, holding a 7-minute advantage as the main group sped to the sharp, steep, entry of the climb. A crash on the approach to the assent put Navigators Insurance riders Ciaran Power, and Kirk Obee on the deck. As they chased to get back to the bunch, a ferocious attack set 8 riders, including Postal’s Rubiera and Azevado, T-Mobiles Savoldelli, and CSC’s Bartoli and Peron free, and in hot pursuit. A chase group of about 15, including Bookmaker’s British champ, Roger Hammond lay about 30 seconds back, and the balance of the field was in trouble. The two chase groups came together in the valley after the decent, and sped towards the ominous Snake Pass.

On the Snake, Leblacher showed his intentions, and attacked his breakaway partners. Baldwin and Day maintained a steady pace, as the Credit rider pulled away. A wicked attack by Savoldelli, followed by Rubiera split the group, and the two started to fly up the climb like butterflies spiked on helium. Baldwin and Day pushed to crest the climb before the dangerous climbing duo could latch on, and Leblacher was holding a 1-minute advantage. Baldwin and Day were joined by their two pursuers as they motored across the ridge at the top of Snake Pass, and from behind, Chocolate Jacques’ Ardila, Quickstep’s Nuyens and CSC’s Sorensen were closing in. The seven came together on the rolling terrain after the decent, and soon reeled Lablacher in. Only one uncategorized climb lay ahead, but a group of 21 chasers was still only 1 minute behind, and chasing in earnest. The leaders pushed the climb, dropping Day, and holding their advantage at 50″. With 15 km of essentially downhill ground to the finish, the advantage was to the chasers, and the gap continued to inch down over the remaining kilometers. Ten seconds at the 4 km mark, but the break would not give in, and at the 300-meter mark, Ardila punched free and soloed for a 01″ advantage over Nuyens and Savoldelli. An exhausted Baldwin held on for 7th, seven seconds in front of the lead chase.

Stage 2:
1. Ardila (Chocolate Jacques)
2. Nuyens (Quickstep)
3. Savoldelli (T-Mobile)

General Classification:
1. Ardila
2. Nuyens @05″
3. Leblacher @05″
4. Savoldelli @ 07″
Baldwin @ 09″