Giant-Shimano had a quiet day in today's stage of the Tour of Britain. The Dutch team is now targeting a sprint win with Marcel Kittel in the final stage in London.

Tom Stamsnijder was first home for Team Giant-Shimano on the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain, coming over the line in the second group on the road after the race exploded over two late climbs into Brighton.

He eventually finished in 28th place, 2’34″ behind solo stage winner Julien Vermote (OPQS) who was part of the original day’s breakaway of five riders.

The parcours of the seventh stage was one of the toughest of the week with an up and down profile from Camberley to Brighton on what was also the longest stage of the week at 225.1km.

With two first category climbs int he final 18km of the stage the race was always going to come down to what happened on these slopes. Stamsnijder  and Albert Timmer were the day’s protected riders and they were put in a perfect position at the base of the first climb with the team coming to the front on the approach. Stamsnijder was able to follow the wheels to come over the top in the second group containing the yellow jersey, while Timmer dropped off the pace.

Little changed on the second climb of the day as the front of the race was split into three distinct groups – the breakaway out front that stayed clear to fill the podium spots, the chase group that come over the line 1’20″ down, and then the third group containing Stamsnijder and the yellow jersey Alex Dowsett (Movistar) who would lose the overall race lead by the end of the stage. Dylan van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp), third place finisher on the day from the breakaway takes over the race lead becoming the sixth race leader so far this Tour of Britain.

Coach Marc Reef said after the stage: “We went for it to see how Tom S and Albert could do in the tough final. Tom did a good ride and was still in the second group, it was good for him to be up there and having a go.

“Tomorrow is our target though, with a good opportunity for a sprint on the last stage. For Marcel today was a case of surviving to the base of the first of the late climbs, but it wasn’t an easy day and after a week of tough racing everyone is feeling it now. First there’s the time trial tomorrow morning then we will be going for another sprint.”