Tour of Britain: Czech Petr Vakoc has yellow jersey

Team Sky's Elia Viviani (right) wins the first stage ahead of Etixx-Quick Step's Mark Cavendish and Lotto-Soudal's Andre Greipel (left) during Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain. Picture: PA

Vakoc produced a fine solo performance to clinch victory in stage 2 in Colne on Monday.

He seized the yellow jersey after racing the last 20km of the stage on his own after the rest of the initial eight-man breakaway was swallowed up by the chasing pack.

The Etixx Quick Step rider finished seven seconds clear of Spain’s Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar) with Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka) in third.

Owain Doull of Team Wiggins was the best-placed British rider, finishing in sixth position to maintain his own fine start in his home event.

Vakoc will start today’s stage from Cockermouth to Kelso in the yellow jersey with an 11-second advantage over Lobato with Doull in seventh just ahead of fellow Britons Graham Briggs and Peter Kennaugh.