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London - Germany's Gerald Ciolek won the second stage of the Tour of Britain on Monday after pipping Sam Bennett to the finish line to become the new race leader.
MTN Qhubeka's Ciolek and Irish rider Bennett (An Post-Chain Reaction) moved past Thomas Lovkvist of IAM Cycling, who was leading with 500 metres to go, before the German edged out Bennett in a sprint finish to claim victory.
The 26-year-old, who won the Milan-San Remo in March this year and came third on Sunday's first stage in Scotland, finished in just over five hours to claim the leader's jersey.
Great Britain's Simon Yates is up to second in the general classification after coming fourth, with riders covering 186.6km including the race's first Category 1 climb, on the Carlisle to Kendal stage.
Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins crossed the line 17 seconds off the lead for Team Sky and is 12th overall, but there was more disappointment for Omega Pharma Quick-Step's Mark Cavendish, who darted out in front of the leading group with 10km left before Lovkvist started to build up a lead with 8km to go.
Cavendish had the platform laid for him by his team-mates on Sunday's first ride from Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle, but he was boxed in and slipped off the pace.
And on Monday he finished down the pack a massive 47 seconds behind Ciolek.
The third stage on Tuesday takes the riders on a 16km time trial starting and finishing at Knowsley Safari Park.
Leading results from the second stage of the Tour of Britain, a 225km ride from Carlisle to Kendal on Monday:
1. Gerald Ciolek (GER) MTN-Qhubeka 5hrs 01min 01sec, 2. Sam Bennett (IRL) An Post-Chainreaction same time, 3. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) IAM Cycling at 0.06sec, 4. Simon Yates (GBR) Great Britain s.t., 5. Michal Golas (POL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step s.t., 6. Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-Sharp 0.09, 7. Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling s.t., 8. Marco Coledan (ITA) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox s.t., 9. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (ESP) MTN-Qhubeka s.t., 10. Julien Vermote (BEL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step s.t.
Overall standings:
1. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka 11hrs 05mins 30secs, 2. Simon Yates (GBR) Great Britain at 0.20, 3. Michal Golas (POL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step s.t., 4. Marco Coledan (ITA) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0.23, 5. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (ESP) MTN-Qhubeka s.t., 6. Julien Vermote (BEL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step s.t., 7. Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling s.t., 8. Sacha Modolo (ITA) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox s.t., 9. Scott Thwaites (GBR) Team NetApp-Endura 0.26, 10. Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (ITA) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox s.t.
