Team Dimension Data’s Mark Renshaw edged into second place at the RideLondon Classic on Sunday.
Team Dimension Data’s Mark Renshaw claimed second place at the RideLondon Classic on Sunday. Photo: Supplied
The race came to an end with an exciting sprint finish which Etixx-Quickstep’s Tom Boonen won, while Orica-BikeExchange’s Michael Matthews slotted into third.
“The race was really fast from the start. Team Sky set a hard tempo all day, setting it up for Geraint Thomas to attack. We missed that move and 20 guys got away, so we were quite lucky to come back into the race there.
“I am happy with second, though, as it’s the first race back after the Tour,” said Renshaw.
The riders were welcomed by some warm British weather as the 202km classic got under way.
After a number of early attacks, eventually six riders were able to go clear of the peloton.
As they rode ahead to a three-minute lead, the race was entering the hills in the Surrey countryside.
Just before the climbing began, the race was neutralised for nearly 30 minutes because of a crash in the cycle sportif, which was taking place ahead of the main race.
Once the racing resumed, it was not long until things started to heat up.
Team Sky, as the favourite local team, began to make an impression on the race by upping the tempo on the positive gradients.
With 90km to go, Thomas put in a stinging attack which ripped the peloton apart.
He kept the pressure on as team-mate Ian Stannard and Cannondale’s Patrick Bevin rode across to the early break.
With 45km to go, Thomas attacked the break as the peloton was trying to get organised, about three minutes behind.
Team DiData were able to regroup in the peloton and proceeded to combine well with Orica-BikeExchange and Etixx-Quickstep in leading the chase, with Nic Dougall doing some good work.
As the remnants of the chase were caught with around 9km to go, Thomas had 30″ to play with but it would prove to be too little.
A 70-rider peloton came charging through Trafalgar Square and a sprint finish would decide the race.
DiData had Tyler Farrar, Jay Thomson and Matt Brammeier helping to position Renshaw for the final straight before he found the wheel of Matthews in the last kilometre.
Renshaw was able to come off the wheel of Matthews and launched a powerful sprint in pursuit of victory.
Boonen, though, got the timing just right and he was able to pass Renshaw in the final 30 metres to take a good win.
