After victory in the Tour Mèditerranèen, Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing) was Britain’s man of the moment. The win – coupled with second place at the Dubai Tour – has seen him deliver on his potential and reward the team’s management for backing him this season. And the Wirral-born rider was rewarded further for his efforts by being installed as team leader when Tejay van Garderen withdrew midway through the race due to illness.

Barely an hour after the announcement had come through however, and Cummings was ruing what might have been. Caught behind the peloton-splitting crash alongside the likes of team-mates Thor Hushovd and Taylor Phinney, Cummings finished in the group 1’09” behind the leaders and his chances of overall victory now appear very slim. With each stage designed with the Classics in mind, Greg van Avermaet – sat fourth overall thanks to a time bonus – now appears BMC Racing’s best chance of competing overall. For Cummings it could have been the race which made him and earned him leadership at much bigger races to come. Unfortunately, Cummings, BMC Racing and fans of British cycle sport are instead left to wonder what could have been.

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