Team Thursday record the slowest Tyne Bridge approach of the Tour

The commissaires’ bulletin for this stage records, for the official file, that Iain, racing for Team Thursday, returned 20 minutes 54 seconds for the 8.12 kilometre leg out, an average of 23.3 km/h, under sunny skies at 13.3°C.

The panel draws particular attention to the St. Ann’s to the Tyne Bridge timing, where the rider was logged at 3:19, some 99 seconds slower than his previous attempt and 122 seconds off his own best — the slowest of 20 recorded runs on that stretch, 158% off the pace he is capable of. The judges note no mechanical or traffic incident was reported to account for the deficit; the time is entered as ridden.

Elsewhere the file is more flattering. The climb away from Four Lane Ends was only 14 seconds off the rider’s best, and progress along Benton Road, though some way down on recent form, showed no cause for concern. The commission notes, as an aside permitted under the rules of colour, that gulls were audible some distance inland on the approach, consistent with still conditions noted in the observers’ log.

For the general classification, the panel confirms Team Friday retain the overall lead, a position held since the opening week of the Tour, with Team Wednesday second. Team Thursday remain third, and the panel records that the gap to Team Wednesday has narrowed to 5 seconds per 10 kilometres, down from 8 before this ride — progress, officially, if not one to celebrate given today’s time. The panel further notes this is Team Thursday’s final appearance of the Tour, with only the ride home still to be ridden and entered into the record.