The last leg of the nine-day tour was a circuit race around Holborn in central London past the headquarters of the sponsors, the Prudential.

The international field powered around the capital's streets at an avarage speed of 30mph before Sweet emerged from the pack for his second stage win.

Sweet success: Big Mat's Aussie leads the field home

Fellow Aussie Stuart O'Grady held on to become the overall winner, with his British team-mate Chris Boardman finishing second.

The two Aussies both ride for French teams - Sweet for the Big Mat Aubervilliers outfit, and O'Grady for the Gan squad which Boardman leads.

US Postal's Dariusz Baronowski was third overall, followed by yet another Australian, the popular Festina rider Neil Stephens.

The race featured some of the top continental teams such as Festina and Gan along with British professionals and amateurs given a rare chance to test themselves at a higher level.

Middlesbrough's Chris Newton of the top British team, Brite Voice, was closest to the fierce international pace, finishing eighth overall.

Tour de France (and Ireland) next

The next big target for Boardman, O'Grady and the other top riders will be the Tour de France which has been disrupted this year by football's world cup.

The tour starts in Dublin a week later than usual on July 11.

The cyclists will not return to France until they are assured of being the centre of attention, two days after the world cup final.

After a disappointing few months, Boardman will be pleased at an improvement in form during the Prutour, and will be aiming for the third Tour de France prologue win of his career in the Irish capital.

Final Prutour results

Stage 8 (Circuit race, Holborn, London, 50 miles):
1 J Sweet (Bigmat Auber 93) 1hr 39min 12sec, 2 D McKenzie (Aus), 3 A Korff (Festina), 4 C Lillywhite (Gbr), 5 M Backstedt (Gan), 6 S O'Grady (Gan) all same time.