Nuyens was the Tour leader from the first stage

The last stage was won by the Belgian's Quick Step team-mate Luca Paolini, but Nuyens avoided any mishaps to take first place in London.

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish was well placed until the penultimate lap, when his wheel was clipped by Alfred Green.

"It would have been me and Paolini but a lack of professionalism by another rider has cost me," said Cavendish.

Quick Step reaped the benefits of sending a strong team to the six-day race, with Nuyens and Paolini each winning two stages as well as the yellow and green points jerseys.

"There were some pretty dangerous rides for the sprints," said Nuyens. "Some guys were taking risks and that might have been dangerous for me."

Paolini was delighted with the team's success.

"It's been a great race for Quick Step. Me and Nick are going very well at the moment and we like riding together."

Stage six results:

1 Luca Paolini (It) Quick Step-Innergetic 1hr 30mins 54 secs
2 Enrico Degano (It) Barloworld-Valsir
3 Roger Hammond (GB) Great Britain
4 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance
5 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC
6 Siro Camponogara (It) Navigators Insurance
7 Takehiro Mizutani (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor
8 Paul Healion (Irl) DFL Driving Force Logistics
9 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic
10 Russel Downing (GB) Recycling.co.uk/Litespeed

Overall standings:

1 Nick Nuyens (Bel) QST Quick Step 19hrs 04mins 32 secs
2 Michael Blaudzun (Den) CSC Team CSC at 8 secs
3 Javier Cherro (Spa) Javier ECV Comunidad Valenciana at 22 secs
4 Phil Zajicek (USA) NIC Navigators Insurance at 33 secs
5 Ben Day (Aus) Mr Bookmaker-Sports Tech at 35 secs
6 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) T-Interim at 39 secs
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step at 1 min 09 secs
8 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet Colnago at 1 min 20 secs
9 Yanto Barker (GB) DFL Driving Force Logistics at 1 min 24 secs
10 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Mr Bookmaker-Sports Tech at 1 min 28 secs