Wednesday 7 September 2016 18:22, UK
The Netherlands’ Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to victory on stage four of the Tour of Britain as Belgium’s Julien Vermote finished fifth to retain the overall lead.
Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) narrowly beat Dan McLay (Great Britain) into second place and Ben Swift (Team Sky) into third after the rolling, 218km day came down to bunch finish.
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was dropped by the peloton on the attritional run to the finish in Builth Wells in Wales and did not contest the sprint.
Vermote (Etixx - Quick-Step) remains six seconds ahead of second-placed Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) in the general classification, while Swift's four bonus seconds for finishing third lift him to 1min 3sec in third.
Groenewegen said: "Today was a very hard stage with the climb. It was a very long stage. There was a small chance I could fight for the win, but I did it. It was a strong performance from the team and I am very happy."
Vermote added: "It was a really tough stage, especially the final part. I didn't expect it to be that hard, to be honest, but my team-mates did a really great job. Tomorrow it will be another hard day, as will Friday. But, as I said at the beginning, we are taking it day-by-day, but I'm happy to still be in yellow."
Cavendish was dropped from the peloton when the catching of the day's breakaway triggered a flurry of attacks and an increase in pace over rolling terrain.
Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) managed to stay in the peloton and it looked like he would the be the man to beat when his team-mates led the bunch into the final 1km, but he then lost position and Groenewegen took full advantage.
The Dutch national champion led out the sprint and held off a valiant challenge from McLay to claim his second victory on British shores this year, having already won stage one of the Tour de Yorkshire in April.
The Tour of Britain continues on Thursday with a 194.6km fifth stage from Abedare to Bath. Find out more about the route in our race guide and follow the action with our live blog from 1pm.
Stage four result
1 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, 5:28:49
2 Dan McLay (GB) Great Britain, same time
3 Ben Swift (GB) Team Sky, st
4 Carlos Barbero (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, st
5 Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step, st
6 Boy van Poppel (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, st
7 Luka Mezgec (Slo) Orica-BikeExchange, st
8 Nicolas Vereecken (Bel) An Post-Chain Reaction, st
9 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin, st
10 Diego Rubio (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA, st
General classification
1 Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step, 13:53:15
2 Steve Cummings (GB) Dimension Data, +6sec
3 Ben Swift (GB) Team Sky, +1:03
4 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal, same time
5 Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step, +1:04
6 Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, +1:08
7 Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac, 1:12
8 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, st
9 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, st
10 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky, +1:16
