If the Tour of Britain needed a statement of intent from Jumbo-Visma on stage one into Manchester, this could hardly have been bettered: victory for the Dutch team’s sprinter Olav Kooij with the team’s hopeful for the overall title, Wout Van Aert, firmly ensconced on his wheel.
With no time bonuses deducted at the finishes or intermediate sprints, countback on stage placings could be critical if riders end up level on time next Sunday in Caerphilly and second place means that Van Aert has stolen an early march on his probable rival Tom Pidcock.
