Praise and Grumble

The fifth stage of the Tour of Britain started at the Britannia Stadium, and made its way through Stone, Uttoxeter and Leek, before crossing the finish line outside Hanley Town Hall.

Boasson Hagen crosses the finish line

In the Tour race in 2008, a young Norwegian rider named Edvald Boasson Hagen won a last gasp victory, with a sprint finish over the line.

Fast forward to 2009 and he was at it again, using his superior pedal power to pull away from the field in the home stretch through Hanley.

His victory was a tad more comfortable this year, with Boasson Hagen even having time to cycle over the finish line with his arms aloft in victory.

It was the Team Columbia rider's third victory in as many stages and meant he took ownership of the yellow leaders jersey.

He spoke to BBC Radio Stoke's John Acres afterwards and said, "I'm really happy. I did it last year, and it's good I can do it again. The course today was really hard, with the wind and up and down all day. "

"But it was a nice course, and I like the finish. It's a little bit tricky on the last corners, but it was nice (to win)."

Other big winners on the day included Belgian rider Thomas De Gendt who won the King of the Mountains and sprint competition. Russell Downing, who rides for Staffordshire-based Candi TV/Pinarello team, finished in third place.

About the tour

The Tour of Britain is the UK’s biggest professional cycle race, and a centrepiece of the British cycling calendar. More than a million spectators will line the streets at all 8 stages to cheer the riders, and hundreds of thousands more will watch on television or log-on via the internet.

The tour peloton leaves the Britannia

The Tour returned in 2004 after a five-year absence, and 2008 was the first time it had came to Stoke-on-Trent, with the route running from the Black Country up to North Staffordshire.

In 2009, the route was changed again, and this time Stage Five took place completely in Staffordshire with the riders doing a loop from Stoke on Trent and back again taking in Stone, Leek and Uttoxeter.

The popularity of cycling as a sport is growing in Stoke on Trent, with the city recently being given 'Cycling City' status, and also staging the Tour Series event in June 2009.

World class riders

Over the past five years, Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champions have ridden The Tour of Britain, alongside stage and jersey winners from the Tour De France.

Russell Downing finished third

Many of the world’s top cyclists competed on the roads of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. Among them were Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy, and Kristian House, who’s not only the 2009 British Road Race Champion, but used to live right next to the route in Fenton! He chatted to BBC Radio Stoke's Matt Sandoz before the race:-

There was local interest with the Stone-based Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta team. As well as reigning Premier League champion Russell Downing – who finished third in stage 5.

Malcolm Elliott, one of the greatest ever British cyclists, having been competing and winning since the late seventies also took part in the Tour.  The former British champion and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist, also won multiple stages of the Milk Race and Kellogg's Tour during the 1980s.

Charity Tour Ride

Hundreds of people also took part in the charity tour ride, around the route that the professional riders later took. It happened on the first weekend in September 2009 to raise money for Prostate Cancer.