Chris Newton

11.09.07: It was a tough day all round for the recycling.co.uk team as the Tour of Britain raced through Somerset's most demanding roads today.

recycling.co.uk lost two riders today. Chris Newton, in 10th place overall at the end of yesterday's stage, had to leave the race after receiving news that his expectant wife had been taken to hospital. Adam Bonsor retired through illness.

A group of 33 riders gained nearly 11 minutes on the peloton after a very rapid start to the race. Race leader Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile) unfortunately missed the move and lost his jersey with a depleted recyclingteam not featuring a rider in the move.

Team manager John Herety stated that he was disappointed with the youngsters at the end of the stage but was more philosophical in the evening when he analysed how many good riders missed the move. "Chris would have been in the move," he stated, "but his wife was taken ill and we had a car waiting for him at one of the feed zones to take him home if necessary, his mind was not on the job today. Rob Partridge was very active early on, but expended too much energy, Rob is a very steady climber and therefore needed to get away before the climbs." With the race splitting on the climbs of Exmoor, the 22-year-old, riding his 4th Tour of Britain, had to settle back in the peloton after some valiant efforts.

On Adam's departure John said "His legs went to jelly on the first climb, we will send him home tomorrow to see his doctor and have a blood test. He was the strongest in Ireland, and you don't lose your form in that time. This is our first year with these youngsters so we don't know their capabilities and this is Adam's first full season of racing, the blood test will tell us more."

Tomorrow the remaining 94 riders take on a 95-mile ride from Worcester to Wolverhampton.