Clancy braced for a ‘monumental’ effort

Olympic track champion Ed Clancy believes the final stage of the inaugural race has all the hallmarks of a “monumental carve up”.
JLT Condor's Ed Clancy.JLT Condor's Ed Clancy.
JLT Condor's Ed Clancy.

At 167km, the final stage from Wakefield into Roundhay Park in Leeds is being viewed by members of the peloton as the toughest test of the weekend.

With a number of punchy climbs as the route runs the reverse chunk of last Tour de France second stage, the final day is expected to hit the riders hard with the final climb up the Cow and Calf a particular highlight.

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If a general classification contender is still in the hunt at that stage, he might welcome the fast finish into Leeds.

Clancy might have few equals on the track, but on the road he knows he may well be playing catch-up.

The JLT Condor rider – who lives near the route in Holmfirth – said: “I’m already worried about stage three, it’s going to be a monumental carve up.

“For the guys like me that stage is going to be savage on the climbs.

“It will be a pretty big achievement to get through it.”

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Today’s second stage from Selby to York is viewed as being one for the sprinters.

The dominant name of Marcel Kittel is hard to look past, given how quickly he took to Yorkshire’s roads last year when he won the first stage of the Tour de France into Harrogate.

There are two intermediate sprints at Wetwang and then on Knavesmire Road but enough climbs as the race weaves through the Yorkshire Wolds to ensure it will not be as simple as just a flat stage for the fastest men on two wheels.

Today’s stage starts at 11.45am with tomorrow’s commencing 12.30pm.