Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) is beginning to enjoy his raids across the North Sea. In a repeat of the corresponding day a year ago, the Dutch champion claimed victory in the bunch sprint on the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, once again edging Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) into second place for good measure.
It was Groenewegen's third victory on British roads in the past twelve months – he also won in Builth Wells at the Tour of Britain in September – and it was arguably the hardest earned. There was no gentle introduction to the fray at this year's Tour de Yorkshire, with the peloton facing three categorised climbs and scarcely a metre of flat as the race rode through North Yorkshire en route to a finish on Scarborough's seafront.
The final ascent, the short but stiff Côte de Robin Hood's Bay, almost did for the fast men, as the peloton fragmented on its slopes, with Groenewegen among those caught behind. Having spent so much of the day setting the temp on his behalf, however, LottoNL-Jumbo's yellow and black guard were not minded to let their work go to waste, and they duly restored order to the race on the run-in to Scarborough, and the scene was set for a sprint.
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"It was a hard stage. I was dropped on the climbs sometimes, but luckily the team was there to protect me all day long," Groenewegen said afterwards. Indeed, even after the categorised climbs were digested, he was almost caught out by the stage's sting in the tail on the final approach to Scarborough. "I felt my legs and dropped back. Fortunately, Tom Leezer was there and dropped back from the front."
The finish line was shifted forward 400 metres on the eve of the race due to concerns that the crashing waves and high spring tides along Royal Albert Drive would soak spectators at the roadside, and it was perhaps fitting that a Dutchman emerged victorious on a sprint finish that was all but reclaimed from the sea.
Cofidis led out for Nacer Bouhanni, but the Frenchman was perhaps exposed too soon, and he faded in the sprint, coming home in fourth place. Groenewegen timed his effort rather better, and he opened what proved to be a winning gap when he ripped clear inside the final 200 metres. Ewan was making real inroads into Groenewegen's lead by the finish, but he left himself with too much to do and had to settle for second place.
Kruijswijk crash
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