Following a day in the break and a brutal summit finish, Erick Rowsell produced a resilient performance on a day that presented a double risk at the 2016 Tour of Britain.
Following a day in the break and a brutal summit finish, Erick Rowsell produced a resilient performance on a day that presented a double risk at the 2016 Tour of Britain.
Stage seven hosted by Bristol saw two events on the same course. First, a 15-kilometre time trial was sure to produce time gaps – Rowsell limiting the damage and holding on to the 14th place on general classification which he held overnight.
However, it was a tantalising lead with which he went into the circuit race – just one second separated Rowsell from Tao Geoghegan-Hart (Great Britain Cycling Team).
By his own admission, Madison Genesis’ leading man went into the penultimate test fatigued from the efforts of a heroic two days and when a volley of attacks went on the final ramp ahead of the finish, the limit was reached.
Ten seconds was the deficit – but after seven days of competition across Scotland, England and Wales – Rowsell holds 15th place with only 99-kilometres of racing around London remaining.
Result – 2016 Tour of Britain
Stage 7(a)
1. Tony Martin Etixx Quickstep 00:18.06
-----
21. Erick Rowsell +00:01.00
51. Tom Stewart +00:01.47
57. Matt Holmes +00:01.51
66. Matt Cronshaw +00:02.09
109. Taylor Gunman +00:03.12
Stage 7(b)
1. Rohan Dennis BMC Racing Team 01:58.42
-----
28. Erick Rowsell +00:00.29
54. Tom Stewart +00:01.33
84. Matt Holmes +00:03.28
112. Taylor Gunman +00:09.10
113. Matt Cronshaw ST
General classification after seven stages
1. Steve Cummings Dimension Data 29:21.21
-----
15. Erick Rowsell +00:05.41
33. Tom Stewart +00:16.13
59. Matt Holmes +00:34.46
105. Taylor Gunman +01:11.12
111. Matt Cronshaw +01:19.56