Serge Pauwels stormed to victory after an impressive ride in the final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire.
The Belgian, riding for Team Dimension Data, attacked at the top of the Cote de Wigtwizzle, the second of four categorised climbs in the final 22 kilometres of the 194.5km stage from Bradford.
He pulled out a lead of more than 30 seconds on the testing Cote de Ewden Height but would need all of it as the chasing pack came back at him on the final climb of the day out of Midhopestones.
He crested the top with nine seconds in hand and eased clear on the descent to Fox Valley to win, with team-mate Omar Fraile following him home.
“The team was incredibly good today”, said Pauwels. “The guys looked after us so well and controlled the race all day, it was then up to Omar and myself to be up there in the final. I had to pick my moment carefully and then when I went, Omar and Jacques did a fantastic job behind me. Omar then came across to me in the final kilometer. He has been a fantastic roommate to me this week and he is great guy. Basically, he gave me the victory today which makes him a great person.”
“I didn’t know at the time how much work he was doing for me because when I got the gap my sports director, Roger Hammond, told me I was not allowed to look behind me one more time. So, for the last 10km I pretty much did a time trial and only in the last kilometer I saw an ENVE wheel next to me, so I thought they had all caught me but it was only Omar. I have always wanted to win a race and now I have won two at the same but really, this is a team victory”.
It’s a 1-2 for @TeamDiData as @sergepauwels is followed by his teammate @OmarFraile. What a ride. #TDY pic.twitter.com/kxabtXxq6o
— Tour de Yorkshire ? (@letouryorkshire) 30 aprilie 2017
Tour de Yorkshire 2017 – stage 3 results (Bradford – Fox Valley):
| 1 | Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) | 4:57:47 |
| 2 | Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) | ,, |
| 3 | Jonathan Hivert (Direct Energie) | +06” |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (BMC) | ,, |
| 5 | Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky) | +08” |
| 6 | Maurits Lammertink (Katusha-Alpecin) | ,, |
| 7 | Matthew Holmes (Madison Genesis) | ,, |
| 8 | Mark Christian (Aqua Blue Sport) | ,, |
| 9 | Lennard Hofstede (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 10 | Joey Rosskopf (BMC) | +23” |
Final general classification:
| 1 | Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) | 11:53:04 |
| 2 | Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) | +06” |
| 3 | Jonathan Hivert (Direct Energie) | +07” |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (BMC) | +18” |
| 5 | Matthew Holmes (Madison Genesis) | +21” |
| 6 | Maurits Lammertink (Katusha-Alpecin) | ,, |
| 7 | Mark Christian (Aqua Blue Sport) | ,, |
| 8 | Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky) | ,, |
| 9 | Lennard Hofstede (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 10 | Joey Rosskopf (BMC) | +35” |
