Kamiel Bonneu claimed the biggest victory of his professional career as a four-rider breakaway group ripped up the script on stage three of the Tour of Britain in Sunderland on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise rider attacked in the final kilometre to beat Ben Perry (Wiv SunGod), Alexandar Richardson (Saint Piran) and Mathijs Paasschens (Bingoal Pauwels Sauce WB) to the line.
There was added drama as Corbin Strong was initially awarded the leader’s jersey for a third day before the UCI commissaires panel reviewed their decision almost two hours after the conclusion of the stage.
As a result, Perry takes a seven-second lead over Strong, with Paasschens a further four seconds back.
“I do like bad weather,” said Bonneu. “I don’t know if that is an advantage but today it wasn’t a disadvantage to like bad weather. I like riding in the rain, so for me it was no problem.
“We are a small team, we don’t win that much. So it’s always nice to get a win and especially in stage race like this. I think it’s a really nice stage race – it’s really awesome to win.
“We discussed at the beginning of the stage that Mathijs and the guy from [Wiv] SunGod would go back after the third sprint because they were really close in the GC. But then we had such a big gap that they said ‘we’re not going to go back.’ I completely understood them, but Richardson said ‘Okay, if you’re not going to keep your promise then I’m not going to work with you!’ It’s his decision and I don’t mind because I won.”
Kamiel Bonneu (@TeamSVB) wins stage three of the @AJBell Tour of Britain ?? in Sunderland ?@benjefperry takes second, @AlexandarRicha2 third after the day-long breakaway stays clear. #TourOfBritain ??⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Tj0tq7hC4N
— AJ Bell Tour of Britain ?? (@TourofBritain) September 6, 2022
