Canyon dhb SunGod at the Tour of Britain: Stage one in pictures

We shouldn’t be surprised any more. Canyon dhb SunGod have a history of producing big rides in big races – dating right back to Harry Tanfield’s success on stage one of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire. But that shouldn’t take anything away from their exceptional start to the 2021 Tour of Britain on Sunday.

Jacob Scott scooped not one, but two jerseys in the breakaway. Rory Townsend then underlined his class by outsprinting the likes of world champion Julian Alaphilippe and European champion Giacomo Nizzolo to take fifth in the uphill finish. The 180km stage, from Penzance to Bodmin, was won by Team Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert.

Here we take you behind the scenes in the first of our daily photo round-ups...

Jacob Scott is no stranger to a Tour of Britain breakaway, having worn the king of the mountains jersey on two previous occasions. On Sunday, assistant sports director Simon Holt was keeping him updated on his progress from the team car.

No sprint finish is easy, but the uphill charge to the line in Bodmin was particularly gruelling. Just look at the face of world champion Julian Alaphilippe, pictured left in his rainbow bands! Canyon dhb SunGod's Rory Townsend, centre, also crossed the line ahead of Italy’s European champion Giacomo Nizzolo, right.

Max Stedman catches his breath after the opening stage from Penzance to Bodmin. The riders took a fraction over 4hr 30min to complete the 180km route (40kph average speed). Stedman – Canyon dhb SunGod’s premier climber – finished 1min 22sec behind Wout van Aert.

It was all smiles for the Canyon dhb SunGod squad on stage one, not least Rory Townsend, right, who ranks his fifth-place finish among the finest results of his career so far.

Tour of Britain podiums are becoming a home from home for Jacob Scott. In each of his past two visits to the race he has worn the king of the mountains jersey. And here he is turning that into a unique hat-trick in Bodmin on Sunday. He topped the standings by one point from Nicolas Dlamini and fellow Brit Max Walker.

And he wasn’t done there. The hugely-popular Yorkshireman also clinched the intermediate sprints jersey. This jersey has been taken home by the team in each of the past two renewals of the race, with Rory Townsend and first Alex Paton claiming the honour.

Canyon dhb SunGod earned every hug and every high five on the opening stage. Support of friends and family is crucial to each of the riders as they work tirelessly for these opportunities to ride shoulder to shoulder with the household names of the World Tour.

Time for bed! Jacob Scott proudly displays his haul as he rests up in preparation for stage two. Monday’s second stage is a lumpy one – covering 184km from Sherford to Exeter. And don't be surprised if you see Jacob and Canyon dhb SunGod at the pointy end again – defending these jerseys.

The race continues...