Belgium's Vermote leads Tour of Britain

London - Julien Vermote won the second stage of the Tour of Britain on Monday to take the leader's yellow jersey.

The Belgian, who rides for the Etixx Quick-Step team, was first across the line in the stage race from Carlisle to Kendal in the English northwest after powering away from Britain's Steve Cummings on the final climb before holding off the chasing pack in a tight sprint finish in the Lake District.

Vermote's team-mate Daniel Martin, of Ireland, came in third, 58 seconds behind the leader.

Meanwhile British Olympic track stars Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, a former Tour de France champion, were 13 and 22 minutes adrift respectively.

Tour of Britain results following Monday's second stage, a 195km ride from Carlisle to Kendal:

Stage

1. Julien Vermote (Bel/EQS) 4hr 40min 50sec, 2. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDD) at 2sec, 3. Daniel Martin (IRL/EQS) at 58sec, 4. Xandro Meurisse (BEL/WGG) same time, 5. Tony Gallopin (Fra/LTS) s.t., 6. Ben Swift (GBR/Sky) s.t., 7. Guillaume Martin (FRA/WGG) at 1min 02sec, 8. Tom Dumoulin (NED/TGA) s.t, 9. Dylan van Baarle (NED/CDT) s.t,, 10. Jacopo Mosca (ITA/TFS) at 1:06

General Classification

1. Julien Vermote (BEL/EQS) 8hr 33min 20sec, 2. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDD) at 06 sec, 3. Daniel Martin (IRL/EQS) at 1min 04 sec, 4. Xandro Meurisse (BEL/WGG) at 1:08, 5. Ben Swift (GBR/Sky) same time, 6. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LTS) s.t., 7. Dylan van Baarle (NED/CDT) at 1:12, 8. Guillaume Martin (FRA/WGG) s.t., 9. Tom Dumoulin (NED/TGA) s.t., 10. Nicholas Roche (IRL/Sky) at 1:16