CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

“Kwiatkowski is such a class act,” Swift admitted. “He’s had his team on the front all day and he definitely deserved that win. Chapeau to him.”

Photo: Sirotti

TEAM SKY

NEWS

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS
28.09.2014 @ 17:59 Posted by Andy Pedersen

Ben Swift was the best-placed Team Sky rider in 12th as the world road race championship came down to a grandstand finish. The Brit was well positioned for much of the showpiece event but the fast pace and attacks over the final ascent of the Mirador swung the balance away from the remaining sprinters.

 

Swift placed fifth in the bunch kick, which translated to 12th overall, after seven riders had edged clear in a thrilling finale. Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) launched a brave attack across the Ponferrada dam with seven kilometres remaining and held on over the grinding final climb to capture the fabled rainbow jersey.

 

The Omega Pharma – Quick-Step rider was narrowly able to hold off an elite group of contenders who pushed onwards over the climb, distancing the faster finishers in the pack to contest the final podium positions.

 

Simon Gerrans (Australia) claimed a silver medal, finishing tantalisingly close to a celebrating Kwiatkowski, while Alejandro Valverde (Spain) edged out third in front of a home crowd. After the race Swift was quick to pay tribute to the victorious Kwiatkowski, as well as Great Britain team-mate Pete Kennaugh who attacked in the final third of the race.

 

“Kwiatkowski is such a class act,” Swift admitted. “He’s had his team on the front all day and he definitely deserved that win. Chapeau to him.”

 

“I gave it my best shot. It was just that last steep climb that really, really hurt. I got myself into a good little position. It was just a hard day,” He told Team Sky.

 

“Pete was fantastic today. That was brilliant. He went with that move. It was a bit of a strange race to be honest. I expected it to be more attacking.”

 

12 riders from seven nations represented Team Sky on a day of changeable conditions in Spain and a race that took a while to burst into life. Rain and fog greeted the riders on Sunday morning and Kanstantsin Siutsou was among those who followed the early attacks. Four men eventually went clear as the peloton began to click off the 14 laps.

 

The quartet were finally pegged at 15 minutes before the Polish squad, riding to set up Kwiatkowski, took up the gauntlet of pace setting.

Great Britain, with Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Swift and Kennaugh in their ranks, were content to shelter in the pack as the next phase of the race approached.

 

On lap 10 Italy pushed on and with 65km to go the front of the race began to splinter. Kennaugh was instrumental in pushing onwards up the road as a dangerous move of 12 riders formed.

 

"It was my first professional world championships so I'm pretty happy with how I rode," said the Manxman.

 

"Just to be in there in the mix in the final is hard enough in these kind of races. As a team we did a really good ride today.”

 

"12th for Swifty is a good result. It's the world championships. I tried my luck a bit earlier which was sort of the game plan - to follow any of the bigger nations. I could have held back in that move and saved something for the end. I just thought, 'this is it, I've committed.' I just gave it my best shot and then once I got caught by the group I just tried to do what I could for Swift."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Danny VAN DER TUUK
25 years | today
Jackie SIMES
36 years | today
Byung Cheol KIM
40 years | today
Bavo HAEMELS
30 years | today
Giuseppe RUFO
37 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com