Tour of Britain - in pictures

The 8.8km individual time-trial through London is the penultimate event in this year's Tour of Britain which began in Dumfries seven days ago. Here, Ben Swift proudly displays his nationality on his cycling shoes Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Andreas Dietziker of Team NetApp is counted down to the start of his time-trial Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Here's the man many people have come to see - Mark Cavendish. The green jersey winner at this year's Tour de France is top of the sprint classification in this year's Tour of Britain. After a few last-minute tweaks to his bike, he sets off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

This rainbow coloured saddle belongs to the current road-race world champion Thor Hushovd. He's entitled to wear it for one more week until he defends his world title next Sunday in Copenhagen Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Alex Dowsett of Team Sky passes the finish-line with by far the best time thus far - 10 minutes 14 seconds Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Michael Rogers of Team Sky prepares in the start hut Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Meanwhile, members of the Sigma Sport team warm up Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The overall Tour of Britain leader, Lars Boom, sets off last and is only one second down on Dowsett at the intermediate split, but come the finish-line he is five seconds slower. That earns him second place in the time-trial and keeps his overall advantage intact. Boom now leads the Czech Leopold Konig by 28 seconds and Britain's Daniel Lloyd by a further second with one stage remaining Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The final stage is a ten-lap circuit race around the streets of the capital. Boom, wearing the yellow jersey, turns through Parliament Square in a strong position Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The peloton speed past Horse Guards Parade Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

And along embankment - it's quite a scenic stage, this Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Down they head into a tunnel Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Team Sky lead the chasing peloton through Blackfriars tunnel Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

But it's the HTC rider Mark Renshaw who funnels his team-mate, Cavendish, into a winning position on the final straight Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Cavendish duly obliges by winning the stage with a powerful sprint-finish Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Victory for the Manxman, and a great way to sign off before next weekend's World Champs. The overall Tour victory goes, of course, to Boom by a total margin of 36 seconds Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian