ORICA-GreenEDGE rider Simon Gerrans has won the silver medal for Australia in the men’s elite road race at the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain today.

Going into the race as one of the favourites, Gerrans didn’t disappoint, showing his cards in a small break over the final climb that came agonisingly close to catching the solo escape of Michal Kwiatkowski (POL).

Opening up his sprint Gerrans was the strongest finisher, but a few moments of hesitation by the chase in the closing kilometres meant his efforts were in pursuit of a minor medal.

“Happy with the result, but at the same time just slightly disappointed," the Australian champion said.

“I raced a good race, I had fantastic support from Aussie team mates as usual. I can’t thank them enough.”

“When Michal (Kwiatkowski) went over the top with the advantage he did, we knew it would be difficult to catch him.  And then with a kilometre to go, we knew we were chasing for the minor placings.”

The world championship silver medal caps off another incredible season for Gerrans, who continues to deliver at the world’s biggest races.

For the second time in three years the 34-year old’s season began with a national championships win, followed by a third Tour Down Under victory before he returned to Europe to become the first Australian winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 

Leading into the world championships, Gerrans also became the first rider to win the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montreal WorldTour double in the same season.

“2014 has been one heck of a season for me,” Gerrans said to the Orica website.

“It started with victories at the very beginning of the season and continued through, and it’s great to at least cap it off with silver here.”

In other ORICA-GreenEDGE performances today, Michael Matthews (AUS) remained in the reduced bunch ready to pounce in the event of a sprint finishing 14th, Daryl Impey (RSA) two position behind in 16th.

Simon Clarke (AUS), Michael Albasini (SWI) and Esteban Chaves (COL) were also active in the final two laps, the trio working to join and shut down breakaway efforts as racing heated up.