Greig Leach

After others had tried to escape from the peloton on the climb, but the hill had proved too much, it was Rohan Dennis (BMC) who got away at the summit. If anyone could ride away from the whole of the peloton, it was the former World Hour Record holder. Dennis had taken second this morning in the time trial, just three seconds slower than the winner, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep). No one else had the legs to ride as fast as this Australian in the morning, and it seems none could do it this afternoon either. Dennis won the stage by six seconds over the field and was rewarded with a ten second time bonus and the points jersey in the bargain. He now sits just twenty six seconds off the lead of Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) and just twelve seconds ahead of the former points jersey wearer, Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin). It is unlikely that tomorrow's 99 kilometer circuit race on the streets of London will do much to alter the podium standings, but one never knows until it is done. One thing is certain, Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert) will keep the King of the Mountains Jersey (well almost he still has to finish the stage tomorrow).