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."