Adam Blythe (Tinkoff) upset pre-race favourite Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) to win the National Championships road race in Stockton-on-Tees.
The 26-year-old former BMC and Orica-GreenEdge rider followed Cavendish's attack in the final 500m to the left of the lead group and after a clash of shoulders outmuscled his WorldTour rival.
Andy Fenn of Team Sky finished third a few bike lengths back, with his teammate Alex Peters animating the race in the build-up to the final sprint.
Peters and Blythe were part of a four-man breakaway that looked to make it to the end of the six finishing laps in Stockton town centre, along with Tao Geoghegan Hart (Axeon Hagens Berman) and Tom Moses (JLT Condor).
Cavendish's group, which contained the likes of Fenn, Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18), Chris Lawless (JLT Condor) and Kristian House (One Pro Cycling), sat around 30 seconds behind the four leaders with two laps to go.
But with just one lap remaining an acceleration by Cavendish finally brought them back, which is when the attacks started with regularity.
The man regularly at the head of the attacks was Peters, who dug deep to try and get away once more, but each time he was dragged back and eventually had nothing left to give.
With Cavendish still with the group heading into the final corner there only looked to be one winner, but Blythe went with the Manxman as he opened his sprint and the duo battled shoulder to shoulder.
A touch of bodies looked to put Cavendish off his rhythm a little in the final metres but there were no complaints from the 2011 world champion as they crossed the line.
Geoghegan Hart, whose partner Hannah Barnes won the women's race earlier in the day, picked up the Under-23 title ahead of Lawless and James Shaw (Lotto-Soudal U23).
British National Championships elite men's road race, Stockton-on-Tees (207km)
1. Adam Blythe (Tinkoff)
2. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data)
3. Andy Fenn (Team Sky)
4. Mark McNally (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)
5. Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18)
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Power vs aerodynamics: what is the best balance and how can I achieve it?
Watts and aerodynamics are two cornerstones of our cycling performance - but favoring only one will see you going slower than a more balanced approach. Here’s our guide to better optimising your speed
-
Even Wout van Aert can lose his nerve: Five things we learned from the CX World Championships
Even with the absence of Tom Pidcock on the world stage, British cyclo-cross is in a good place
-
Speed Demons of the peloton: The six best sprinters of 2022
We take a look at the standout performers of the fast men and women in the professional scene this year
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
British UCI Continental team makes pitch for Mark Cavendish’s signature
Saint Piran boss Ricci Pascoe says he would gladly provide a short term place for Cavendish, if it helped him to achieve Tour de France dream
-
B&B Hotels, the team that was set to sign Mark Cavendish, collapses
Multiple riders left scrambling to find places on alternative teams after demise of French ProTeam confirmed
-
B&B Hôtels boss: 'Mark Cavendish wants to be with us. I want him to be with us.'
Team's hunt for sponsors intensifies after missing UCI registration deadline
-
Time running out for B & B Hotels, the team expected to sign Mark Cavendish
Team still without major sponsors as UCI impose deadline of 22 November for team to complete registration for new season
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
-
Mark Cavendish: Tour de France 2023 has 'ample opportunities for bunch sprints'
Fast man thinks there might be seven or eight sprint chances, but he has to find a team first
