# 2008 Tour of Britain

The 2008 Tour of Britain was a UCI 2.1 category race of eight stages from 7 September till 14 September 2008. The race was the fifth edition of the latest version of the Tour of Britain. It formed part of the 2007–08 UCI Europe Tour. The race begun with a circuit stage in London and ended in Liverpool.
The race was won by Geoffroy Lequatre of Agritubel, whilst both Alessandro Petacchi and Edvald Boasson Hagen won three stages.

## Participating teams

The 16 teams which participated in the race were:

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 7 September 2008 – London to London, 86 km (53 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | 1h 51' 54" |
| 2 | Rob Hayles (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 3 | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 4 | Dean Downing (GBR) | Rapha Condor–Recycling.co.uk | s.t. |
| 5 | Rahsaan Bahati (USA) | Rock Racing | s.t. |
| 6 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 7 | Kristof Goddaert (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | s.t. |
| 8 | Robbie Hunter (RSA) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 9 | Zakkari Dempster (AUS) | SouthAustralia.com–AIS | s.t. |
| 10 | Jonathan Bellis (GBR) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | 1h 51' 44" |
| 2 | Rob Hayles (GBR) | Great Britain | + 4" |
| 3 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 4 | Anders Lund (DEN) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 5 | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 6" |
| 6 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 9" |
| 7 | Dean Downing (GBR) | Rapha Condor–Recycling.co.uk | + 10" |
| 8 | Rahsaan Bahati (USA) | Rock Racing | s.t. |
| 9 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 10 | Kristof Goddaert (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | s.t. |

### Stage 2
#### 8 September 2008 – Milton Keynes to Newbury, 145 km (90 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | 3h 25' 11" |
| 2 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 3 | Christopher Sutton (AUS) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 4 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 5 | Greg Henderson (NZL) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 6 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 7 | Kristof Goddaert (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | s.t. |
| 8 | Zakkari Dempster (AUS) | SouthAustralia.com–AIS | s.t. |
| 9 | Malcolm Elliott (GBR) | Pinarello – CandiTV | s.t. |
| 10 | Ben Swift (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | 5h 16' 55" |
| 2 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 3 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 2" |
| 4 | Rob Hayles (GBR) | Great Britain | + 4" |
| 5 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 6 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 7 | Anders Lund (DEN) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 8 | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 6" |
| 9 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 7" |
| 10 | Óscar Sevilla (ESP) | Rock Racing | s.t. |

### Stage 3
#### 9 September 2008 – Chard to Burnham-on-Sea, 186 km (116 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | 4h 49' 22" |
| 2 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | + 30" |
| 3 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 5 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | s.t. |
| 6 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 7 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 8 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | s.t. |
| 9 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 39" |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello – CandiTV | + 1' 45" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | 10h 06' 17" |
| 2 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | + 29" |
| 3 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 36" |
| 4 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 37" |
| 5 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 6 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 39" |
| 7 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 40" |
| 8 | Dan Martin (IRE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 9 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 49" |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello – CandiTV | + 1' 50" |

### Stage 4
#### 10 September 2008 – Worcester to Stoke-on-Trent, 157 km (98 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Team Columbia | 3h 36' 11" |
| 2 | Giairo Ermeti (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 3 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 4" |
| 4 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 5 | Kristof Goddaert (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | s.t. |
| 6 | Dean Downing (GBR) | Rapha Condor–Recycling.co.uk | + 7" |
| 7 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 8 | Daniel Lloyd (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 9" |
| 9 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | s.t. |
| 10 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | 13h 43' 06" |
| 2 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | + 6" |
| 3 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 10" |
| 4 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 11" |
| 5 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 13" |
| 6 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 14" |
| 7 | Dan Martin (IRE) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 8 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 23" |
| 9 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | + 35" |
| 10 | Giairo Ermeti (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 1' 03" |

### Stage 5
#### 11 September 2008 – Hull to Dalby Forest, 165 km (103 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Team Columbia | 3h 46' 23" |
| 2 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 3 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 4 | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) | Rock Racing | s.t. |
| 5 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 6 | Jonathan Bellis (GBR) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 7 | Ben Swift (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 8 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 9 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | 17h 29' 40" |
| 2 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | + 6" |
| 3 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 10" |
| 4 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 11" |
| 5 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 13" |
| 6 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 14" |
| 7 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 8 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 23" |
| 9 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | + 35" |
| 10 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 1' 24" |

### Stage 6
#### 12 September 2008 – Darlington to Newcastle/Gateshead, 156 km (97 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | 3h 45' 09" |
| 2 | Rob Hayles (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 3 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 4 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | s.t. |
| 5 | Malcolm Elliott (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | s.t. |
| 6 | Ben Swift (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 7 | Jonathan Bellis (GBR) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 8 | Romain Feillu (FRA) | Agritubel | s.t. |
| 9 | Kenny Lisabeth (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | s.t. |
| 10 | Christopher Sutton (AUS) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | 21h 14' 49" |
| 2 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | + 6" |
| 3 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 14" |
| 4 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 15" |
| 5 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 16" |
| 6 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 18" |
| 7 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 19" |
| 8 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 28" |
| 9 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | + 40" |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | + 1' 24" |

### Stage 7
#### 13 September 2008 – Glasgow Green to Drumlanrig Castle, 153 km (95 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Team Columbia | 3h 45' 18" |
| 2 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 3 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 4 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | s.t. |
| 5 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 6 | Fred Rodriguez (USA) | Rock Racing | + 5" |
| 7 | Cameron Meyer (AUS) | SouthAustralia.com–AIS | s.t. |
| 8 | Gregory Henderson (NZL) | Team Columbia | + 26" |
| 9 | Kristof Goddaert (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 2' 18" |
| 10 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | 25h 02' 25" |
| 2 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | + 6" |
| 3 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 14" |
| 4 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 15" |
| 5 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 16" |
| 6 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 18" |
| 7 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 19" |
| 8 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 28" |
| 9 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | + 40" |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | + 1' 24" |

### Stage 8
#### 14 September 2008 – Blackpool to Liverpool, 110 km (68 mi)

The final stage departed from Blackpool and finished in Liverpool with six laps of a city centre circuit. Alessandro Petacchi took the stage win, his third of the tour, whilst Geoffroy Lequatre finished third to win the general classification.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | 2h 19' 25" |
| 2 | Julian Dean (NZL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 3 | Robbie Hunter (RSA) | Barloworld | s.t. |
| 4 | Matthew Goss (AUS) | CSC–Saxo Bank | s.t. |
| 5 | Rob Hayles (GBR) | Great Britain | s.t. |
| 6 | Christopher Sutton (AUS) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | s.t. |
| 7 | Roger Hammond (GBR) | Team Columbia | s.t. |
| 8 | Juan Van Heerden (RSA) | Team MTN | s.t. |
| 9 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello – CandiTV | s.t. |
| 10 | Kenny Lisabeth (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) | Agritubel | 27h 21' 49" |
| 2 | Steve Cummings (GBR) | Barloworld | + 6" |
| 3 | Ian Stannard (GBR) | Great Britain | + 14" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Chipotle p/b H30 | + 15" |
| 5 | Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) | LPR Brakes–Ballan | + 16" |
| 6 | Benny De Schrooder (BEL) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 20" |
| 7 | Daniel Fleeman (GBR) | An Post–M Donnelly | + 25" |
| 8 | Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen | + 29" |
| 9 | Emilien Berges (FRA) | Agritubel | + 50" |
| 10 | Russell Downing (GBR) | Pinarello-CandiTV | + 1' 25" |

## Classification leadership

| Stage | Winner | General classification | Sprint Classification | Mountains Classification | Points Classification | Team Classification |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi | Alessandro Petacchi | Anders Lund | Kristian House | Alessandro Petacchi | |
| 2 | Matthew Goss | Alessandro Petacchi | Danilo Di Luca | Kristian House | Alessandro Petacchi |
| 3 | Emilien Berges | Emilien Berges | Danilo Di Luca | Kristian House | Roger Hammond |
| 4 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Geoffroy Lequatre | Giairo Ermeti | Ben Swift | Roger Hammond |
| 5 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Geoffroy Lequatre | Danilo Di Luca | Ben Swift | Matthew Goss |
| 6 | Alessandro Petacchi | Geoffroy Lequatre | Danilo Di Luca | Ben Swift | Alessandro Petacchi | Agritubel |
| 7 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Geoffroy Lequatre | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Danilo Di Luca | Edvald Boasson Hagen |
| 8 | Alessandro Petacchi | Geoffroy Lequatre | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Danilo Di Luca | Matthew Goss | Agritubel |
| Final | Final | Geoffroy Lequatre | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Danilo Di Luca | Matthew Goss | Agritubel |