Having launched from a good position and sped towards the line at the end of stage five of the Tour of Britain, Omega Pharma Quick Step rider Michal Golas looked for a moment that he was on course to grab victory in Caerphilly.
However while he was very fast in the sprint from the fourteen man front group, one rider was even quicker: the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly competitor Sam Bennett, who rocketed past just before the line.
Speaking afterwards, Golas said that he was surprised at the outcome, but accepted the result.
“I didn't do any mistakes, and it went well in the final,” the Polish rider said afterwards. “I was in a good gear, and when we came out from the corner I was in second position.
“I started sprinting and everything was perfect, but suddenly Bennett came from behind and passed with more speed than me. It was simply him being too fast,” he explained, thinking what might have been.
Golas showed strong form in being there at the end of a stage which shattered the peloton, and knows that he is in the right kind of condition to pull off a big result.
He’ll try again for a stage, and also to remain high in the overall.
“It's a pity because I was targeting this stage and I was looking for my first win of the season,” said the former national champion and Tour de Pologne King of the Mountains. “But OK, the condition is there for sure. Tomorrow's stage is a bit more hilly than today, but we will do our best for another good result. Now I am fifth in the GC as well, so I must defend my position.”
He is one minute and twelve seconds behind the overall leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky), and 29 seconds off the third place of Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling).
The latter finished third on today’s stage.