Peter Sagan (Slovakia) finally took the big win that has always eluded him when he made a strong solo attack on the steep 23rd Street to clinch his first Worlds title in solo fashion. The Slovakian managed to narrowly hold off a reduced bunch that was led home by Michael Matthews (Australia) and Ramunas Navardauskas (Lithuania).

When he emerged on the pro scene in 2010, Peter Sagan was predicted to go on to dominate the classics and it seemed that it would just be a question of time before he would take his first Worlds title. However, after his great start to his career, his star seemed to fade as other riders emerged in the biggest one-day races.

Much was said about his ability to handle the very long races as he always seemed to come up short in the monuments and in recent year he has turned into the eternal runner-up, finishing second on multiple occasions in grand tour stages. However, the criticism can now be put to rest after he came out on top in a very exciting Worlds road race in Richmond.

After he crashed out of the Vuelta, Sagan had slipped slightly down the list of favourites as his preparation had been far from optimal. However, his altitude training in the USA had allowed him to build the perfect condition and after having played the waiting game all day, he benefited maximally from his great form by launching a strong solo attack the final time up the steep, cobbled 23rd Street.

"In the last two laps there were difficult moments. All the champions were moving, attacking the front, and I said, no. It's just for the last lap will be the moment. I waited in the group to see what would happen," he said. "On the last cobblestone climb I said I will try.

"Once I was alone I said, 'I have to go full gas'. It was very strange. Everything happened very fast. Boom, boom, boom and I am here.

"I tried to do the best I could do to remain alone. That was the moment. It was crucial I think, because if I stayed with someone they would not pull me.

"I was waiting for this moment. I did my preparation after the Vuelta. I had to recover after the crash and then I had to start preparing for this race. I came here with three weeks without racing, and didn't know what I would do.

“With my team, we couldn’t have a strategy, because we were just three in the race. I saw the under-23 race and women’s race, and everyone was together until the finish. Journalists ask me, ‘How can you be in the final for the race?’ But it’s impossible to say. I want to be in the front and decide in the moment.

“When I attacked, I was behind Greg Van Avermaet. I said, ‘I’m going to try.’ It was a good decision. The big countries can do some strategy. I’m no good at strategy. I can just do what I did.

“From the last climb, it was still a long way to the finish — a descent, a little flat, the climb. After that, the last 800 meters was very tough. If you go alone from there to the finish, it’s far. Everyone’s going full gas to come to the finish for a sprint. But I said ‘I already tried, I have to go.’ Because if I look back or stop to pull and wait for the sprint, maybe I can get third or fifth.

“After the cobbled climb, if I had been with other riders, for sure they wouldn’t pull me. So it was crucial to be alone.

“I was winning a lot, and it got boring for the people and the riders. I’m always fighting. In the Tour de France and this year at some of the classics, I was at the front but not the best. But this is also my advantage. I can try to do a good sprint or a good climb. That’s my characteristic.”