Cummings doubles up with British road race victory

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After winning the time trial earlier in the week, Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) soloed to victory in the road race at the British national championships, becoming the first man to do the double since David Millar in 2007.

Towards the end of an aggressive and uncontrolled race on the hilly Isle of Man course, Cummings took off from a small lead group with just one lap of the 7.2-kilometre finishing circuit remaining, and his lead only grew as he approached the line. 

Chris Lawless (Axeon Hagens Berman) finished second, securing him the U23 title, while Ian Bibby (JLT-Condor) took the bronze medal.

"It was a really tough race, but that style of competition is what you miss when you haven't been racing – it was punchy and explosive and there were so many efforts," said Cummings, who only recently returned to competition following a long injury layoff after a crash in April's Vuelta al País Vasco.

"I'm back now so we can forget about the injuries! It's nice to be back doing what I do and looking forward to whatever is next. It'll be nice to be at the Tour and to get stuck in."

How it unfolded

Cummings' successful late strike was just one of several dangerous moves on attack-filled day of racing at the British national road championships, which comprised two laps on a large main circuit and 10 on a smaller finishing circuit for 193.7 total kilometres.

A 20-man breakaway got clear in the early goings with defending champion Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) and Movistar's Alex Dowsett in among the selection. 45 minutes later, that group was caught, with Team Sky taking up the task of pushing the pace and forcing splits in the bunch.

Sky's Ian Stannard dragged a six-man group clear, with Lawless in the selection, and then Bibby and Sky's Pete Kennaugh bridged the gap. Kennaugh tried an attack but couldn't build much an advantage off the front. Behind, Cummings came across to the main chasing group along with Sky's Tao Geoghegan Hart and Jon Dibben and UAE Team Emirates' Ben Swift.

With three laps to go it was down to Cummings, Swift, Kennaugh, Lawless and Bibby out front, before Cummings made his decisive attack with one lap left. Swift lost touch with the chasing group as Kennaugh, Lawless and Bibby tried to close down the move, but they never came particularly close to reeling Cummings in, with the 36-year-old holding on comfortably to take the win by 40 seconds.

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