We sent out our very own James Sherwood to check out the sights and sounds of Tour of Britain by the seaside, camera in tow. This is what he thought of the day:
A sweltering morning greeted the riders as they arrived in Old Felixstowe ahead of Stage 5 of this year’s Tour of Britain 2023. The race organisers couldn’t have wished for a better day and backdrop, with the sun bouncing back off the sun-soaked promenade… You would almost be forgiven for thinking it was a scene from the continent!
There was a great atmosphere along Spa Pavillion as the teams turned up, with crowds gathering outside two of the biggest teams in the world – Team Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers. Team sign-on quickly came and went and the riders were lined up on Sea Road ahead of the 10:45am departure. 192km awaited the riders throughout Suffolk, passing through Ipswich, Holbrook, Hadleigh, Needham Market, Stowmarket, Framlingham, and Woodbridge.
It was another stage destined to end in a bunch sprint, but Wout van Aert and his Team Jumbo-Visma teammates had other plans. Going into the second to last left-hand corner, Van Aert drifted off the front and lit the afterburners, quickly gaining a gap. A gap that became impossible to close for the bunch, with the Belgian treating the fans in Felixstowe to an incredible display and strength and skill to take the stage win!
Plenty of fans packed the presentation area to watch Van Aert take the stage honors and pop the Champagne in celebration! Check out some of our photos below from the day:
Got Instagram?
Check out our round-up of the day on the Cycle Revolution Ipswich Instagram channel HERE, and a slightly different photo carousel HERE! See some of our other captures from the day below, with some rather unique ariel shots looking down at the bunch from the Orwell Bridge!
