TALYBONT cyclist Gruff Lewis delivered the result of his career on day two of the Tour de Yorkshire when - collecting bonus seconds in the break - he elevated himself to sixth on general classification and highest-placed British rider on the race.

The ride of his life started when he made it into the break of the day, along with five others. Taking second at the first sprint, Lewis earned two bonus seconds and - as a finisher in the peloton on stage one - he elevated himself into the prominent position as the lead British rider overall.

“I think I dreamt of it last night when Erick (Rowsell) said it was a possibility,” commented Lewis after the race. “I knew I was a decent sprinter from a group like that so I knew the chance was there.

“After 110-kilometres in the break, holding onto the peloton is not something you aim to do, but I didn’t really fight real hard to stay in that breakaway because I knew that my main objective was to get over the finish line with the bunch.”

“I’m super happy, I couldn’t be happier. This was the ride of my life, maybe.”

The narrow roads meant that the peloton was very attentive, with the gap hovering around one minute for an extended period of time - but some concerted work meant that the group stayed away until the second sprint of the afternoon.

Madison Genesis rider Lewis picked up a further one-second bonus, at which point his focus switched to staying in the peloton once his breakaway was caught.

With sprint trains forming, the task of remaining in the peloton was not easy, but motivated by a top 10 place he was able to make it to the line without losing time.

• The previous week had seen Ceredigion star Gruff Lewis take a strong second at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic as Madison Genesis used strength in numbers to feature in a fragmented finish.

Lewis’ move that sealed second place was supposed to bring teammate Alex Blain - and the group he was with - back to late-attacker Conor Dunne (JLT Condor), in order to contest the sprint finish.

The Welshman’s turn, however, was so strong that it left him solo, in second position on the road and chasing Dunne.

“I wanted Blain to go over because he was the one for the sprint,” said Lewis. “I was doing the work for him and obviously when I came through I went as hard as could to try and close the gap to Conor.

“It was only when I turned around that I realised I was on my own. It could have been any of us but it turned out to be me.”

Lewis held the gap to the line to record second place overall, and he paid tribute to a team that has been ever-present in a race that is often very unpredictable.

Madison Genesis riders were on high alert for all 179-kilometres, but had to reserve highest focus for the 11-gravel and dirt road sections that typify the race.

Erick Rowsell made a decision early on that he would sacrifice himself, by forcing his way to the front, protecting the team and keeping up the tempo high, which would force the other teams to chase.

“When Erick did that, he was causing havoc behind. As much as it took energy from us, it took more out of the teams that had to chase, and it paid off,” said Lewis.

The same was true of Tom Stewart’s searing attack in the closing stages, which forced other teams to chase and allowed Lewis Blain and Roswell the chance to catch their breath before the finale.

2016 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic Top Three times: 1. Conor Dunne (JLT Condor) 04.48.30; 2. Gruff Lewis +00.00.14; 3. Chris Lawless (JLT Condor) +00.00.24.