Unpredictable Tour of Britain route appeals to Chris Boardman
Saturday 5 September 2015 12:08, UK
The unpredictability of the Tour of Britain is what makes it appeal to three-times Tour de France leader Chris Boardman.
The 1992 Olympic individual pursuit champion will be a keen observer as the eight-day race begins in North Wales on Sunday.
It takes in a challenging route which works its way up as far as Edinburgh before moving back down towards the finish in London via its highest ever summit finish in Cumbria.
The stage race can be undoubtedly punishing but also rewards riders who dare to take risks and that excites Boardman.
He said: "The one thing we've come to learn is you just don't know what's going to happen in this race.
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"You get home riders, people trying to make their name, people coming back from injury, people building up for the worlds, people winding down.
"It's such a mix it's more who is the most tenacious who tends to win, not who is the best on that climb there. You can't pinpoint where it's going to happen. That makes good viewing."
Dutchman Dylan van Baarle won the 2014 edition ahead of Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski and Sir Bradley Wiggins.
Kwiatkowski went on to win the World Championships road race and Wiggins the time-trial, with both using the Tour of Britain as preparation.
This year's race benefits from its point in the calendar as an alternative build-up event for the Road World Championships to the three-week Vuelta a Espana.
Wiggins, who won the 2013 edition, will be present again, this time for his eponymous team after switching his major focus from the road to the track.
Ben Swift will lead Team Sky's six-man squad, which includes three other Britons in Andy Fenn, Pete Kennaugh and Ian Stannard.
Stage one from Beaumaris in Anglesey to Wrexham should end in a sprint finish which suits Mark Cavendish, who appears to be in the final months with Etixx-QuickStep as his contract is expiring.
According to Boardman, the second - from Clitheroe to Colne - could be a defining point in the general classification standings.
The 47-year-old added: "The winner will probably come from a breakaway that goes away at some unspecified point, even as early as stage two because round Clitheroe it's pretty nasty."
