The men’s race was punctuated by attacks, with several big groups spending time up the road at various stages of the early parts of the race.

Defending champion Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) and Movistar’s Alex Dowsett – himself looking to secure a Tour de France berth, having been named in his team’s longlist – were both in the first 20-strong group to go clear.

Team Sky were not represented, however, and it was little surprise to see them reeled in before a new, smaller group went clear – this time including Ian Stannard (Team Sky), Dowsett and James Shaw (Lotto-Soudal) among others.

Stannard, Dowsett and Shaw were joined by Lawless, Graham Briggs (JLT-Condor) and Scott Davies (Team Wiggins) and boasted a small lead, and their group swelled as more and more counter-attacks were launched.

In the women’s race, Barker was part of a three-strong leading group which formed on Snaefell Mountain, bridging across to solo leader Manon Lloyd (Team Breeze) with local favourite Anna Christian (Drops).

Deignan and Barnes were both in the group chasing behind, but when Barker attacked on the finishing circuit with 35km still to race the chasers struggled to make inroads into her lead.

With nobody wanting to drag the pre-race favourites to the finish line either, there was little co-operation in the group behind, only playing into Barker’s hands.

But Deignan finally launched a telling counter-attack, with Archibald and Barnes on her wheel, finally catching Barker on the final lap.

And Deignan was not for waiting around, attacking immediately to reclaim the blue, white and red-striped jersey.

Barker paid for her effort as Barnes and Archibald gave chase – the latter outsprinting the defending champion to claim second – with the Welsh rider finishing fourth.

Melissa Lowther (Team Breeze) finished fifth, 1’28” behind, to claim the under-23 title, meanwhile.