Steve Cummings wins national road race title to seal rare double

Steve Cummings of Dimension Data is likely to head to the Tour de France this week as British national champion on the road and in the time trial after sealing a rare double on the Isle of Man today.

The 36-year-old took the time trial title on Thursday, breaking an eight-year domination of the event by today's runner-up, five time champion Alex Dowsett, and the retired Sir Bradley Wiggins, who won on three occasions.

Today he added victory in the road race, with Chris Lawless of Axeon Hagens Berman second and JLT-Condor's Ian Bibby third.

Only David Millar, in 2007, has previously won both titles in the same year.

Dimension Data hasn't yet confirmed its team for the Tour de France yet, but Cummings double means the Wirral rider, winner of stages in the past two editions, is a virtual certainty to take to the start in Duesseldorf on Saturday.

But just two months ago, he underwent major surgery in Sheffield after breaking his collarbone, scapula and sternum in a crash at the Tour of the Basque Country.

Two-time champion Peter Kennaugh had animated the race on his native island with a solo attack but was brought back in a race that produced the first podium without a Team Sky rider since the UCI WorldTour outfit started racing in 2010.

He launched a solo attack from the break in the closing kilometres of what sounds like a pulsating race this afternoon - but one with no live television coverage, to the dismay of many fans on social media.

"It was a really tough race, but that style of competition is what you miss when you haven’t been racing," said Cummings.

"It was punchy and explosive and there were so many efforts.

"I’m back now so we can forget about the injuries.

"It’s nice to be back doing what I do and looking forward to whatever is next.

"It’ll be nice to be at the Tour and to get stuck in."