TOUR OF BRITAIN: STAGE 8, REIGATE TO GUILDFORD – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team left an emphatic mark on the 2012 Tour of Britain as sprinter Boy van Poppel took 2nd earlier today in the final stage of the amazing race across the U.K., en route to completing an outstanding week in the U.K. Van Poppel finished just behind stage winner Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Sky Pro Cycling Team, and ahead of 3rd place finisher, Fabio Sabatini (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale, earlier today, Sunday, September 16. As this year’s Tour wrapped up in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Guildford, van Poppel capped off what was arguably the best week of his young career, with four podium finishes, six top 10 finishes, briefly holding the gold IG Leader’s Jersey, and winning the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey.

Boy Podium Stage 8

Photo: VeloUK.net/Tour

For Team UnitedHealthcare, the US based Pro Continental outfit enjoyed tremendous success over the course of the eight-stage event against a world-class field. The Team grabbed 2nd place overall in the Team Classification, Curacao National Champion, Marc de Maar, won Stage 5 and finished 2nd in Stage 6 while Chris Jones (USA) took 7th in Stage 6, and podium mainstay Boy van Poppel won the overall Chain Reaction Points Classification by taking 2nd in Stage 1, 3rd in Stage 2, 7th in Stage 3, 4th in Stage 4, 3rd in Stage 5, and 2nd in Stage 8.

Boy Podium Britain

Photo: VeloUK.net/Tour

Team Director, Hendrik Redant, summed up his squad’s performance over the past eight days, saying, “This was an amazing week for us. The boys worked so hard and we are all happy for the results they produced. Boy’s 2nd place finish today is a great way to end this Tour and in the same way we started it – with a Team member on the podium. What a great way to complete a fantastic week! The organizers have put on an incredible Tour of Britain and we are honored to have been part of this race. The crowds were incredible and our hats are off to them for making this ninth edition of the modern Tour of Britain so incredible.”

TEAM UNITEDHEALTHCARE ROSTER FOR THE 2012 TOUR OF BRITAIN (September 9-16, 2012):

Boy van Poppel (NED)
Robert Förster (GER)
Jonny Clarke (AUS)
Kai Reus (NED)
Chris Jones (USA)
Marc de Maar (CUR)
Team Director: Hendrik Redant (BEL)
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