Barry Markus tried to mix it up with the big sprinters in stage 1 of the Tour of Britain. Having hit the front too early, he had to settle for sixth.

Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM's Barry Markus dashed to sixth in a superstar bunch sprint in the first day of the weeklong Tour of Britain.

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the stage, and Markus, 23, rode well against an elite field of sprinters that also included Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) in third, to post sixth in the 104.8km stage around Liverpool. Kittel also took the leader's jersey, with Markus slotting into ninth overall.

"It was a good sprint, but I was too early on the front. With 500 metres to go, I was in second place, and six riders came over the top of me with 400 metres to go. I tried to follow, but I was sixth," Markus said. "I have to be happy with sixth today. Kittel and Cavendish are the two best sprinters in the world."
 

Team Belkin opted to play its cards in a bunch sprint, and did not try to place a rider in a four-man breakaway in the relatively short opening stage.

"There was a breakaway with four riders, and the last one was caught with about 5km to go. It was a straight up bunch sprint today," said Belkin Sports Director Jan Boven. "It was a pretty good sprint for us. Maybe Barry went a bit early, but it will not be easy against these top sprinters. If you are sixth against these guys, that is a pretty good start."
 

Monday The 11th Tour of Britain continues with the 200.8km second stage to Llandudno, featuring three short, challenging climbs in the final hour of racing.

"Tomorrow is a longer stage, a little bit more hilly, but I think it will be another sprint," Boven said.

"I feel good right now," Markus said. "Tomorrow will be another sprint. I have good legs, and I hope to get some good results this week. We will see what we do with the team tomorrow."