Stannard first British rider to win 2018 Tour of Britain stage

ByCarrie Dunn

Updated 08/09/2018 at 21:52 GMT

Team Sky's Ian Stannard became the first British rider to win a stage of the Tour of Britain this year as he crossed the line first in Mansfield.

Stannard led a five-man breakaway before eventually going solo 16km from the line, chased hard by Nils Politt.

The 31-year-old last won a stage of the race in 2016.

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"It was always pretty close with Politt, seven or eight seconds or so, and it was getting tough," said Stannard, who eventually won the stage by 59 seconds.

"Luckily there were a few little kicks towards the end so I managed to put a bit more into the gap.

"When I got into the break today I was pretty confident – I looked at the other guys, how they were riding all day and I knew that I had the edge."

It was the second stage win in two days for the team after Wout Poels won the sixth stage on Friday.

Quick-Step Floors's Julian Alaphilippe finished safely and should claim the overall title in London on Sunday.

Stannard soloes to victory in gloomy Mansfield

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Stannard soloes to victory in gloomy Mansfield

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08/09/2018 at 15:58

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