Gales deal a blow to Tour of Britain

The second stage of the Tour of Britain, scheduled to run 137.7km from Kendal in the Lake District to Blackpool, was cancelled yesterday due to high winds.

Explaining the decision, Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett said; “In my 30 years of organising cycling events I have never once had to cancel a stage before it even started, so this is not a decision that has been taken lightly.

“However today has presented us with a set of extreme circumstances. The safety of competitors, officials, staff and of course spectators is of more importance than the spectacle of the event.

Writing on his Twitter feed, Welshman Geraint Thomas of Team Sky said: “Disappointed but safety is the main issue guys. Got to respect the police decision. Not worth breaking ourselves,”

Mark Cavendish, who won the first stage between Peebles and Dumfries on Sunday, is the race leader. Stage Three – the Stoke-on-Trent Stage – will go ahead today.

Meanwhile, former champion Tom Boonen of Belgium has pulled out of this month’s cycling world championships in Copenhagen with a hand injury. Boonen would have to wear a cast for the next two weeks because of the injury, his team Quick Step said in a statement.