With Team Sky, Orica-GreenEDGE and Vacansoleil-DCM controlling the peloton the gap to the breakaway reduced to a little over two minutes after the three laps of the Leith Hill circuit. The peloton briefly splintered on the last categorised climb of Box Hill as David Millar of Garmin-Sharp set a furious pace which led to the escape of his team mate Jack Bauer together with Yoann Offredo (FDJ.fr) and Simon Yates (Great Britain Cycling Team) - who eventually caught the early breakaway.