George Bennett was the first rider to create a real gap on the short and steep Corkscrew Hill and it looked like the 22-year-old would be the first rider to reach the KOM - until Geraint Thomas (Sky) came blasting over the top.
Bennett crested the climb in third position and once joined by teammate Ben Hermans, he promptly took charge of the four-rider group and sacrificed his own position for the stage and general classification.