Tour of Britain: Elia Viviani sprints to controversial stage two victory

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) was the first across the line on stage 2 of the Tour of Britain, but the victory was awarded to Elia Viviani (Team Sky) in controversial circumstances.

Minutes after the finish, the jury decided that Boasson Hagen did an irregular sprint, granting the victory to the Team Sky rider.

Boasson Hagen was also edged out in a photo-finish in Sunday’s opening stage and had already donned the leader’s green jersey on the podium before the gut-wrenching decision was made.

Viviani gestured angrily to the Norwegian after crossing the line in second, feeling he had been impeded. The Dimension Data rider had started his sprint down the middle but moved left, failing to leave Viviani space along the barriers.

Over 40 minutes after the stage finished – it was confirmed the Italian had won and also taken the green jersey because of the ten-second time bonus.

Boasson Hagen, a two-time Tour of Britain winner, had been released by lead-out man Mark Renshaw with just under 200 metres left of the 211-kilometre route and held off the challenge of Viviani and Dylan Groenewegen.

Groenewegen moved up to second after Boasson Hagen’s misery and Fernando Gaviria was third.

Tour of Britain 2017 – stage 2 results (Kielder Water and Forest Park – Blyth):

General classification after stage 2: