Endura are forced to do all the chasing after they missed the vital break(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Oli Beckingsale (Endura MTB) and Graham Briggs (Team Raleigh) drop back from the lead group(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Simon Richardson (Team Sigma Sport) injects some pace into the bunch(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Jez Hunt (Team Sky) was always near the front of the bunch to discourage the attacking moves(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Russell Hampton (Raleigh) and Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) on the front of the break(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Team Sigma Sport take up the chase but Jeremy Hunt (Team Sky) is on close attendance(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
The Elite men's podium Alex Dowsett (Team Sky), Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and Russell Hampton (Raleigh)(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
One lap to go for winner Ian Stannard (Team Sky) as he solos to victory(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Russell Hampton (Team Raleigh) digs deep as he tows Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) round in pursuit of Stannard(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Ian Stannard (Team Sky) takes the generous applause as he celebrates winning the British championship(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Swift (Team Sky) policing the moves trying to bridge the gap to the break that contains his teammates(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) attacks to keep the early break clear of the chasers(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Ben Greenwood (Vanilla Bikes) takes up the challenge on the front as the early attacks start(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Endura) puts the hammer down on the front of the bunch(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Daniel Lloyd (Sigma Sport) heads off in lone pursuit of the leaders(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
James McLaughlin (Sojasun Espoir ACNC) leads the early chase group(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
The early breakaway group - Oli Beckingsale (Endure MTB), Graham Briggs (Raleigh), Russell Hampton (Raleigh), Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and Alex Dowsett (Team Sky)(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
The winning break that decided the podium places(Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)
Ian Stannard (Sky Procycling) soloed to his national road title, finishing more than a minute ahead of the nearest chasers after dropping his breakaway companions well out from the finish.
Stannard's teammate Alex Dowsett made it a Sky 1-2 by topping Russell Hampton (Raleigh-GAC) for second. Ben Swift and Jeremy Hunt completed the top five, giving their Sky team most of the top places in the event.
Michael Cuming (Rapha Condor-Sharp), 10th overall, was the top U23 rider.
Alasdair Fotheringham takes a look back into the history books to explore how the famed fifth Tours were won, what they meant for their winners, and how the record has evolved