Finally, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took home the British road race crown when he won a rainy edition of the championships race in Glasgow today. The win was taken in unusual fashion as the Briton emerged as the strongest in a race of attrition instead of relying on his speed in a bunch kick.

For the first time ever, we will see Mark Cavendish line up in the British champion's jersey when he takes to the start line in Corsica on Saturday. Today the Manxman earned that right by winning his first ever British road race title.

Unusually, the win did not come from a bunch sprint, instead showing that Cavendish is in splendid condition for the Tour. The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider survived the climbing on a rainy day in Glasgow until only three riders were left, eventually winning the sprint.

Early in the race, Cavendish had put his only teammate Andrew Fenn up the road in a breakaway with defending champion Ian Stannard. That allowed the sprinter to save his legs for the finale, and when his chase group caught up with the leaders, he still had plenty of energy left.

That allowed him to join the day's crucial 4-rider breakaway which later dwindled to just three, Cavendish, David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) and Stannard. Millar made a solo bid to take the win with 3km to g but Cavendish impressed by closing the gap to the time trial specialist, finally winning the sprint to take the title.

"The weather was a bit rainy, and the parcour a lighter version of Tour of Flanders," OPQS Sport Director Brian Holm said. "They basically closed Glasgow, the center of the city, for this race. The crowd was fantastic. I also have to add that Fenn did a great job for Cavendish today. He entered into the breakaway in the first part of the race and he permitted Cavendish to sit behind and stay covered until the final kilometers."

Cavendish had been a little nervous due to his limited domestique resources but managed to overcome his numerical disadvantage to take the win.

"I'm really happy with this result," Cavendish said. "To be honest this morning I wasn't so sure because there were so many teams here with a lot of riders and there were only two of us here — me and Andy. The parcour was not so easy, really technical. Fenn was in the original breakaway with Stannard. It was a good move to put Fenn in the front so I could save myself and sit on the wheels of the chasing group and stay relaxed.

"Then when we caught Fenn and Stannard, I started riding. In the final kilometers there remained only three of us and I went for the sprint. It was really, really nice. I'm happy because I am proud to be British and wear this jersey for the first time in my career, especially heading into the Tour de France."

Result:

1. Mark Cavendish

2. Ian Stannard

3. David Millar

4. Peter Kennaugh

5. Luke Rowe