Peter Sagan launched a brilliant solo attack 2.5 kilometres from home to claim the rainbow jersey with victory in the UCI Men's World Championship road race in Richmond.
The Slovakian sprang off the front of the pack on the short final climb and quickly built a healthy gap, and was able to ease up and enjoy the moment as he crossed the line comfortably clear of Australia's Michael Matthews in second and Ramunas Navardauskas of Lithuania in third.
Sagan has had an often difficult season since signing a big-money deal with the Tinkoff-Saxo team - criticised for his early performances by team owner Oleg Tinkov, enduring a string of second-placed finishes in the Tour de France and being knocked out of the Vuelta a Espana by a motorbike - but the man synonymous with the Tour's green jersey he has won four years in a row will now don the rainbow stripes after a thrilling display.
"I think this is my biggest victory and I am very happy because I made a lot of sacrifices these last three weeks after the Vuelta," he said afterwards. "I am very happy for this moment."
Ireland's Sam Bennett finished in 39th place.
Defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski, confirmed this weekend as a Team Sky signing for 2016, came home in eighth place while his new team-mate Ben Swift was the highest British finisher in 22nd.
