Steve Cummings survived a penultimate stage assault from BMC Racing Team's Rohan Dennis to head to London for the final stage of the Tour of Britain wearing the yellow jersey.
Having come second, behind Tony Martin, in the morning's time trial, Dennis attacked late on in the afternoon's second part of the Bristol stage to take the win and to haul himself to within 26-seconds of the overall lead.
Behind, Cummings came in 15th within a group six seconds back after a frantic chase of lone leader Dennis across the Clifton Downs to limit the BMC rider's advantage.
"It was a tough two stages,” said Team Dimension Data rider Steve Cummings afterwards.
"First off in the morning the conditions were treacherous really with the rain so I was happy to get that done and limit my losses. Luckily the weather improved in the afternoon so that was less of a concern it was just about not losing the race at the start and being attentive at the end.
“I had two people I had to follow and I let one go but it wasn't that I just fell asleep it was that I didn't have the legs to do it! I still limited my losses though and kept the jersey so it's a good day for everyone.”
Job done for @StevoCummings & @TeamDiData! A really tough day but they've defended Yellow Jersey brilliantly! pic.twitter.com/aGKl0fq4WI
— Tour of Britain (@TourofBritain) September 10, 2016
Dennis had responded to an acceleration from Tom Dumoulin on the final of six ascents of Bridge Valley Road after the peloton had caught a four rider break containing Andre Greipel, who won the combativity award for stage seven, on the last of those circuits.
The former UCI World Hour Record holder went clear as the climb stiffened, showing further good climbing form in a week that has seen him star on the ascents of The Struggle in Cumbria (stage two) and Haytor in Devon (stage six). Dennis then put his time trialling abilities to the fore to hold off the 20-plus rider group behind.
Coming into the final kilometre on the Downs, Cummings put in a big effort to close down Dennis and limit his losses, briefly gapping his rivals before fading slightly in the final few hundred metres for a safe 15th position.
Looking ahead to stage eight in London, Rohan Dennis was pessimistic about his chances of overturning Cummings' advantage.
"To pick up 26-seconds it means I'd have to go off the front and win the stage, and with at least four teams there that would want it to be a bunch sprint that's pretty unlikely to be honest. The first plan will probably be just to make sure we don't lose second and then if there is an opportunity to take time off Steve then I'll take it, but with his team it'll be tough they're pretty experienced and riding the front and closing down anything that's dangerous.”
The stage win does though move Dennis into the lead of the points classification with a six-point advantage over Dumoulin. Dutch national champion Dylan Groenewegen lies a further two points in arrears, and looks the favourite for the jersey should the final stage end in a bunch sprint, as expected.
The sprint jersey will go down to the final day, with An Post Chain Reaction's Jasper Bovenhuis holding a six-point lead over Greipel, with nine points to play for at three intermediate sprints during the 16-lap London stage.
One classification that was sealed in Bristol is the King of the Mountains Jersey, with Wanty Group Gobert's Xandro Meurisse extending his lead over Nicolas Roche and completing his hold on the jersey that he took on stage two in Cumbria.
Thanks @rog10 @MarkCavendish & @TeamDiData for making my little girl's day today! Good luck tomorrow! #tourofbritain pic.twitter.com/hXVvityuNC
— roubaixmunkey (@fortunemunkey) September 10, 2016
In the morning's time trial, Tony Martin had ridden to the victory, clocking an 18-minutes and 6-second lap to beat Dennis by 3-seconds for the second stage win of the week for Etixx Quick-Step, with Olympic Games Silver medallist Tom Dumoulin in third.
The best performer for Great Britain Cycling Team in both stages today was Tao Geoghegan Hart, with the young rider finishing 12th in the time trial, 44 seconds behind winner Martin, following that up with 21st in the circuit race, in the second group to cross the line, 10 seconds behind Dennis.
Having twice finished second overall in the Tour of Britain (2008 and 2011), Cummings heads to London on the verge of history and becoming the first Brit since Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2013 to win his national Tour.
The Tour of Britain concludes in central London on Sunday 11 September with the London stage featuring 16-laps of a six kilometre circuit taking in the world-famous landmarks of Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.
