The team had numbers in the finale as the race split apart, Joe Dombrowski claiming seventh while Josh Edmondson placed 10th after featuring in a late-race attack.

The race splintered on the second last lap as Edmondson went clear alongside Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff). On the final climb of Kogashi Road former Sky rider Rogers attacked through the forest, opening out a slender gap which he subsequently increased to claim victory.

Eventually, the practiced Australian was able to hold off a strong group of chasers on the Utsonomiya course to clinch an imposing solo win.

Jack Bauer (Garmin-Sharp) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) rounded out the podium as they led in a handful of riders across the finish.

Having taken shelter from the torrential rain showers that marred the race, Race Coach Kurt-Asle Arvesen praised the effort of the riders in rough weather conditions.

"They rode fantastic today as a team," he said on the Sky website. "Richie (Porte) was controlling things early on and then Bernie took over. He'd been helping out David but then he went to the front and rode for a long time.

"The race really started with three laps to go and we still had Joe (Dombrowski), Josh and David left when there were only around 15 guys left in the race.

"Josh went with Mick when he attacked. They were gone and then Mick attacked him on the final climb. He was the strongest and Josh couldn't quite follow. We ended up with a couple of guys in the top 10. David didn't have anything in the sprint to beat those quicker guys. Obviously we were hoping for a better result today but I can't say enough about how well the guys rode."