A British win, for a British rider on a British trade team, was a hugely popular result for the home fans – and a reminder of Adam Blythe’s talent.

The newly-crowned British criterium champion, who had already finished third and sixth at Britain’s two other UCI Europe Tour one-day races – the Beaumont Trophy and Rutland-Melton respectively – has enjoyed a fine season since stepping down to ride for NFTO.

The former BMC Racing man has been in stunning form and is currently ranked as the number one British domestic rider as a result.

And he proved he is still capable of mixing it with the best by first sticking with former team-mate Philippe Gilbert as he lit the race up before out-sprinting fellow Yorkshireman Ben Swift (Team Sky) on The Mall.

Team-mate Russell Downing had predicted a UCI Continental team could win, and – having finished tenth himself – his team certainly proved themselves on the big stage.

Stepping down from WorldTour level could have spelled the end for Blythe, but the 24-year-old has landed on his feet and his performance in front of the television cameras will have done no harm to his chances of returning to the top level.

And the win was also a huge boost for Britain’s UCI Continental teams and the British Cycling set-up – proving the gap between them and pro cycling’s elite is shortening as Blythe proved the benefits of the British racing programme.