Dutchman Lars Boom wins Tour of Britain for second time

Boasson Hagen launced a solo attack with three kilometres remaining and managed to stay out in front despite the efforts of the sprinters to chase him down.

Boom (Team LottoNL-Jumbo), also champion in 2011, began the stage in Worcester with a slender eight-second lead over Stefan Kung (BMC Racing Team) but did a good job protecting it as those still in with a chance of overall victory piled on the pressure.

Boasson Hagen (Team Dimension Data) moved up to second overall ahead of Kung thanks to a 10-second bonus for winning the 180km eighth stage in the Welsh capital.

"It feels good to finally get this victory. We had a plan from the beginning of the day for me to try to attack with two or three kilometers to go," Boasson Hagen said.

His team mate Mark Cavendish, in his first race since being forced to pull out of the Tour de France injured following a crash, abandoned on the final day.