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Rabobank’s Lars Boom came one step closer to the IG Markets Gold Jersey by taking victory in Wells yesterday at the end of the Somerset stage of The Tour of Britain. 

Boom emerged from the final corner ahead of his breakaway companions to take the win, ahead of Alexandre Pichot and Leopold Koenig.

British overall contenders Geraint Thomas and Ian Bibby were less fortunate, slipping down the rankings. 

Thomas missed the important move on the Skoda King of the Mountains climb up Old Bristol Hill and ended the stage in 25th position, taking him down some ten places in the standings to 12th and nearly two minutes in arrears.

Bibby was even more unfortunate, becoming involved in a crash with Thomas, and ended his chances of a top five finish to this Tour of Britain completely, going home in an ambulance with a broken collar bone.

Stage Seven today takes the cyclists to Suffolk, where they will race from Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham. It’s the longest stage of the Tour of Britain since 2004, at 200 kilometres, and will provide a good training ground for next week’s World Race Championship in Denmark. 

Despite largely level country, there are three King of the Mountains stages, and intermediate sprint sections will give spectators a chance to see the world’s top riders in action.

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