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Gerrans gutted to miss gold at worlds

28th September, 2014
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Australian cyclist Simon Gerrans felt like crying tears of disappointment rather than joy after he claimed silver in the world championship road race in Spain.

Such was the 34-year-old’s brilliant form in Sunday’s race he was gutted to miss out on the gold to Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, who timed a late breakaway to perfection to take the title.

Gerrans won the six-man sprint for second ahead of long-time Spanish rival Alejandro Valverde who secured bronze for a third consecutive year.

But it was Kwiatkowski’s attack with 7km left, first reeling in four escapees and then going alone on the final climb, that proved decisive as he became his country’s first ever world champion.

Earlier in the day the Polish squad worked hard to bring back a four-man break that had built up a 15-minute lead.

Gerrans announced before the 254.8km race that it was “without question” his best chance of claiming the rainbow jersey and he was downcast afterwards.

“To be honest with you I felt like I wanted to cry when I crossed the finish line, to be so close to the world title and to see it slip away in the final few kilometres,” the 34-year-old said.

“Coming to the finish with the small group we were racing for second place and I knew I had good legs.

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“If things had unfolded a little differently in the final I knew I could have been racing for the victory.”

The Victorian said although it was “very disappointing” to finish second he was happy with the way he and his eight teammates raced.

He acknowledged he was beaten by a stronger rider with better tactics.

“Michal was definitely the worthy winner today.”

Australian head coach Brad McGee agreed.

“We’re crying and smiling at the same time,” he told AAP.

“How could you not be proud of Simon and all the boys’ efforts today.

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“They did everything needed to win but were out-jumped by a superb performance from Kwiatkowski.

“You can’t be disappointed – but again the victory was right there in front of us.”

Canberra rider Michael Matthews was only a handful of seconds behind Gerrans’ group cresting the final climb but said the plan was for him to stay with the sprinters in case the race regrouped in Ponferrada.

“For me I was hoping it would come back together and I could go for the sprint,” the 24-year-old told reporters.

“But in the end one guy stayed away and Gerro got the best place possible.

“It was a really good ride from the whole team. We all did our job.”

Gerrans has had his best-ever season in 2014.

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He started winning in January taking the Australian national championships for the second time and overall victory at the Tour Down Under for the third time.

In April he won Liege-Bastogne-Liege which was his second classic after 2012’s Milan-Sanremo.

He was brought down on the opening stage of the Tour de France by Mark Cavendish but returned to form earlier this month with back-to-back Canadian GP wins.

Gerrans has previously worn the yellow jersey at the Tour and won two individual stages (in 2008 and 2013).

He also won grand tour stages at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana in 2009.

Former champion Cadel Evans didn’t finish his final worlds on Sunday retiring on the penultimate lap.

Australia ended the championships with more medals than any other country taking two gold, two silver and two bronze.

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Trade outfits Orica-GreenEDGE and Orica-AIS also won silver in the men’s and women’s team time trials, respectively.

AUSTRALIAN MEDALS AT THE ROAD CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PONFERRADA, SPAIN:

GOLD
Campbell Flakemore – Men’s under-23 individual time trial
Macey Stewart – Women’s junior individual time trial

SILVER
Simon Gerrans – Men’s elite road race
Caleb Ewan – Men’s under-23 road race
Orica-GreenEDGE – Men’s team time trial*
Orica-AIS – Women’s team time trial*

BRONZE
Anna-Leeza Hull – Women’s junior individual time trial
Michael Storer – Men’s junior individual time trial

*Team time trials are raced by trade outfits not countries. Orica-GreenEDGE and Orica-AIS are Australian-registered teams.

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