As soon as the women's race had packed up, the men started to arrive. Below: Scott Thwaites and Erick Roswell of NetApp-Endura.
David Millar abandoned the time trial a few nights prior due to a cough. He hoped to rest up ahead of the road race and next week's Tour de France.
Simon and Adam Yates.
Sky May have had 7 riders on the start list today but only 5 showed up. Ian Stannadrd and Sir Bradley Wiggins were DNS.
The Yates twins catching up with their mates.
Bikes queued up as their owners queued up to sign on.
A busy scene at the start.
Josh Edmondson and Luke Rowe.
A quiet moment for Geraint Thomas. He wasn't the only Welshman lining up today but he was undoubtedly the crowd favorite.
Meanwhile Rowe and Millar looked ready to get the show on the road.
Thomas and Millar (I love seeing my favorites laughing together!).
The flag waved and the race was off! The men would complete one long loop before doing 10 laps of the 7.2km finishing circuit.
Para cyclists on tricycles, hand cycles, and a tandem duo set off on a race of over 20 laps of a 1.5km circuit.
Officials officiating.
Flowers for the division winners.
So,etching I've never seen at any race before: the attendants from the VIP section brought the food out to spectators across the street!
But I wasn't there to eat, I wanted to see racing!
Ten laps to go
An early break of 10 was whittled down to 8 by the time they started their laps after over two and a half hours of racing. The break included 4 Sky riders, the Yates brother, and 2 others.
Conspicuous in his absence from the leaders was Geraint Thomas, sitting 1:14 in arrears.
Alex Dowsett and David Millar, both of whom I was hoping to see on the final podium with Geraint Thomas, were in a group about 2:38 off the lead.
The peloton rolled in nearly 8 minutes behind. UCI rules state that the peloton can be pulled for safety reasons if they are over 8 minutes behind.
Nine laps to go
The same 8 rode on.
Thomas was clawing seconds back, now 1:05 behind.
The Millar/Dowsett group was still hovering around 2:41 behind.
The peloton at 8:17 behind.
Eight laps to go
No changes in the lead.
Thomas, putting in a monster ride, gained a few more seconds and was 58 seconds off.
Just shy of 3 minutes for the Millar/Dowsett group while the peloton (pictured below) were 8:31 off the break.
Seven laps to go
The break had dropped one of the non World Tour riders and was now 7 strong.
Millar and Dowsett both abandoned at some point on this lap while the peloton kept a consistent gap to the break away.
The emcee, flipping back and forth between clipboard.
Six laps to go
The leaders were still working together and it was clear the race winner would come from this lot.
The massive effort to bridge the gap was taking its toll on Thomas who was now 1:25 back. Still, on every lap the crowd roared at the sight of the Welshman.
Five laps to go
Thomas continued to bleed time and was 1:45 behind the break which was moving strongly.
Four laps to go
Luke Rowe attacked and was trying to hold his 12 second advantage over the break.
Thomas by now had been absorbed by a small chase group which included the highest placed U23 rider on the road.
Three laps to go
It was down to the 4 Sky rider and Simon Yates to duke it out.
Adam Yates had lost nearly 30 seconds.
Thomas's group was an astounding 5:05 down.
There were a few small chase groups but the that was all as the peloton had been yanked off the course for falling too far behind.
Fans (and an abandoned rider) scrambled to find great places to watch the leaders come in.
Two laps to go
Peter Kennaugh and sprinter Ben Swift pulled clear of Simon Yates but their lead was minimal and not to be taken for granted.
Luke Rowe and Josh Edmondson were 45 seconds off their teammates at the front.
Adam Yates had lost an additional minute on the last lap.
The bell lap!
Kennaugh and Swift had put almost 39 seconds into Simon Yates and were gunning it!
One last clipboard check before the race would finish and a new British champion would be crowned!
Kennaugh and Swift were so even matched but Kennaugh clearly pulled ahead with a handful of meters to go and took the title!
Simon Yates, looking twice over his shoulder to make sure he was alone, came in for third place.
LukeRowe finished with a high 5 for Kennaugh.
The U23 champion, Edward Laverack.
The pre-podium interview.
The U23 podium.
The elite men's podium: Ben Swift, Peter Kennaugh, and Simon Yates.
I grabbed 3 autographs from the men: 127 Scott Thwaites, 137 Luke Rowe, and Alex Dowsett was thrilled to sign the calendar.
