Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij powered to victory in a dramatic sprint finish on stage three of The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men across the Yorkshire Wolds.
Racing for Decathlon CMA CGM Team, Kooij outpaced stage two winner Tim Merlier (Fix All Quick-Step) to secure the eighth stage win of his career in Beverley.
The win brings him closer to Sir Mark Cavendish’s record of 10 stage victories in the race.
Kooij said: "It’s always nice to get a win, especially after yesterday to try and really do my sprint at the right moment.
"With the headwind, I really had to wait for the moment that I could find my way through.
"I think also in the end, the way we controlled, the boys got me into the final in a really perfect way.
"I’m really happy to take the win."
It is Kooij’s second victory in Beverley, having also claimed the stage there in 2023.
The route through Beverley began at a brisk pace, with six riders forming the first breakaway of the day.
Among them was Michal Schuran of Team United Shipping, the King of the Mountains leader, who collected maximum points on the day’s three third-category climbs.
The breakaway was reeled in by the peloton before the final ascent of Keeper’s Hill, as Netcompany INEOS increased the pace in an attempt to regain time lost by their rider Filippo Ganna in the previous stage.
A solo attack from Yorben Lauryssen (Tarteletto - Isorex) briefly disrupted the pack, earning him more than two minutes’ advantage and full points at the second intermediate sprint.
However, he was caught on the final lap as Fix All Quick-Step and Decathlon CMA CGM Team led the chase.
Kooij launched his sprint to edge out Merlier, who appeared to suffer a mechanical issue in the closing metres.
Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling Team) finished safely in the main group to retain his overall lead, 12 seconds ahead of Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates - XRG).
Askey said: "These two stages should have been relatively easy on paper for me to keep the jersey, but in the end they were anything but.
"With the wind we’ve had on both days, I’m pretty happy to have come out of that unscathed and ready to fight tomorrow."
Schuran extended his lead in the King of the Mountains competition to 16 points.
Merlier moved into the lead of the points classification, level with Kooij but ahead on general classification time.
Lauryssen was awarded the combativity prize for his attacking ride on the final circuit.
The Lloyds Tour of Britain continued on Saturday in North Yorkshire, starting in Helmsley and finishing in Leyburn.
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