The 2012 Tour of Britain sealed a summer of British sporting success, and the final stage encapsulated all that had made it great for the host nation.
Mark Cavendish blazed up the brutal cobbled incline in the centre of Guildford to record a memorable win, ensuring that wherever his future may lie, his comittment in the saddle remains unquestioned.
Jon Tiernan-Locke may replace Cav at Team Sky, although his arrival and the Manxman’s departure have yet to be confirmed. The Devonian proved his suitablity for a place in the WorldTour with a mature and occasionally emphatic ride to victory.
One of the most enjoyable sub-plots for home fans was the performance of the domestic teams, who showed themselves more than equal to the challenge presented by the stars of the WorldTour.
Their presence was felt again on the final stage, with Team IG-Sigma Sport’s Simon Richardson riding in the breakaway, and Kristian House (Rapha-Condor) and Pete Williams (Node4-Giordana) claiming overall victory in the Skoda King of the Mountains and Yodel Sprint competions respectively.
Roz Jones was our lady with the lens in Guildford. Here’s a gallery of her superb pictures.
Bernie Eisel proved himself a loyal lieutenant to Mark Cavendish. Will he depart with his friend should the Manxman leave Team Sky?
Endura Racing’s team manager, Brian Smith, recruited Russell Downing from Team Sky at the end of last season. ‘Fonzy’ recorded a string of top five finishes at the 2012 Tour of Britain
Three things are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of Mark Cavendish. One is winning…
….the other two are girlfriend, Peta Todd and baby daughter, Delilah Grace
Nathan Haas, Jon Tiernan-Locke, and Damiano Caruso had earned a drink by the time they reached Guildford
Pete Williams overall victory in the Yodel Sprints competition for Node4-Giordana provided further evidence that the domestic teams had not been outclassed
Team IG-Sigma Sport’s Simon Richardson spent much of the final stage in the breakaway and was awarded the combativity prize
Kristian House (Rapha Condor), overall winner of the King of the Mountains competition, gave an engaging post-race interview
Newly changed from a champagne-soaked podium, Jon Tiernan-Locke arrived at the post-race press conference in the colours of Endura Racing. His final appearance in green and black?
