Slovenian Primoz Roglic moved into the lead of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain after Team LottoNL-Jumbo took victory in the race’s first-ever team time trial stage, held between Cockermouth and Whinlatter in Cumbria.
The Dutch squad completed the 14-kilometre course, which included the climb of Whinlatter from its western approach, in 19’37”, 16 seconds faster than nearest challengers Quick-Step Floors.
Roglic – who placed fourth in this year’s Tour de France – started the day just 16 seconds behind former race leader Patrick Bevin, whose BMC Racing Team could only place fifth on the stage.
Roglic said: “We are all really happy – it’s a really special moment.
“Getting the jersey was not really a big objective – we just wanted to do a nice team time trial. But as we managed to take it, we will try and defend the jersey in the next days.
“There was quite a lot of communication out on the road because it was a really hard climb. I think all the guys did a really good job, each and every one of them. It’s a really nice win.”
Roglic leads Quick-Step Floors duo Julian Alaphilippe and Bob Jungels by six and 16 seconds respectively, with Bevin dropping to fourth, 24 seconds in arrears.
Team Sky finished fourth on the day, which leaves Dutchman and three-time stage winner in the race Wout Poels fifth overall, 26 seconds down.
Roglic is seeking to become the second Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider in as many years to win the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, after team-mate Lars Boom claimed the overall title in 2017.
With no primes along the route, André Griepel (Lotto Soudal), Nic Dlamini (Team Dimension Data) and Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) retain their leads in the Wahoo Points, SKODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints competitions respectively.
Welshman Scott Davies has overtaken Hugh Carthy (Team EF Education First-Drapac) atop the Adnams Best British Rider classification after Team Dimension Data beat the American-registered team by 22 seconds.
Tomorrow’s stage will likely decide this year’s champion; the peloton will race 168.3 kilometres from Barrow-in-Furness to another hill-top finish at Whinlatter, tackling the climb twice from its harder eastern side.
