Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland won the 2014 UCI Men’s World Road Race Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, on Sunday after breaking clear of the main peloton about five kilometres before the end of the 254.8km race.
Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski celebrates winning the Road Cycling World Championships in Spain. Photo: Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP
The 24-year-old Kwiatkowski, whose team rode tirelessly at the front in the early stages to keep him out of trouble, caught and passed a small breakaway group in the run-in to the finish.
Australia’s Simon Gerrans won the bunch sprint to take the silver medal in front of Spain’s hometown favourite Alejandro Valverde, who placed third for the second year running.
Denmark’s Matti Breschel pipped Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet and France’s Tony Gallopin for fourth on a rain-soaked day.
Philippe Gilbert (Belgium), Alexander Kristoff (Norway), John Degenkolb (Germany) and Nacer Bouhanni (France) completed the top 10.
