Harry Tanfield Sprints to a Brilliant Victory on Stage 1 Tour de Yorkshire

Yorkshireman Harry Tanfield Sprints to a Brilliant Victory on Stage 1 Tour de Yorkshire

The young, Yorkshire born, Canyon Eisberg rider goes into GC lead by 3-seconds in what is his home race. It was a fitting end to a stage that was characterised by the break making it to the line after super human efforts to keep the chasing peloton away in the final stages.

After a very attacking start to stage one of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire a 6-man break instigated by Tanfield, got away early in the day, worked up to a lead of over five minutes and then managed to confound the sprint teams by holding the gap to the line.  As the remains of the break opened up the sprint to the line Tanfield held back and at the last minute dropped his head and gave everything he had left to cross the line first.

Tanfield also took the first intermediate sprint and was 3rd in the second and with the win also takes the green points jersey and was voted most combative on the stage and wins the Dimension Data Digital Jersey.

Tanfield commented after the stage: “Last 5 km had been really hard and no one had any gas left.  As the sprint started I just went from the back and time trialed to the line.  Huge thanks to everyone on the road for the support.

At one stage towards the end I was going to sit up but then I looked around and there was no bunch to be seen so we just carried on. We all worked so very well, it was a group effort but I got to the line first, it was brilliant.”

The race moves onto Stage 2 of 4 tomorrow 149 km from Barnsley to Ilkley.

VIDEO: Tour de Yorkshire Stage 1 Highlights

2018 Tour de Yorkshire Stage 1 Top 10

1 Harry Tanfield (GBr) Canyon Eisberg 4:08:12 
2 Alistair Slater (GBr) JLT Condor   
3 Michael Cuming (GBr) Madison Genesis   
4 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling   
5 Thomas Baylis (GBr) One Pro Cycling   
6 Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb 0:00:05 
7 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Vital Concept Club   
8 Emils Liepins (Lat) One Pro Cycling   
9 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling   
10 Riccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro Team