Races Road World Championships: Michal Kwiatkowski wins road race gold By Daniel Benson published 28 September 2014 Gerrans takes silver and Valverde bronze Comments Race Home Races Women's Team Time Trial 36.2km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Team Time Trial 57.1km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Women's Junior Individual Time Trial 13.9km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Under 23 Individual Time Trial 36.2km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Junior Individual Time Trial 29.5km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Women's Elite Individual Time Trial 29.5km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Elite Individual Time Trial 47.1km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Women's Junior Road Race 72.8km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Under 23 Road Race 182km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Junior Road Race 127.4km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Women's Elite Road Race 127.4km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada Men's Elite Road Race 254.8km | Ponferrada - Ponferrada View all Races Contenders Image 1 of 199Lars Petter Norhaug and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The 2014 Worlds podium enjoys the moment(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The legs of the 2014 Worlds podium(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Simon Gerrrans (Australia), Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) and perennial podium getter Alejandro Valverde (Spain) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) can't believe he won the World Championships(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) in a state of disbelief(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) raises his arm after being presented with the rainbow jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) on the podium before receiving the rainbow jersey and gold medal(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alejandro Valverde (Spain) collected the bronze medal for the third straight year(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)An umbrella was a good accessory to have if you were watching the race today(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)John Degenkolb (Germany) after the Worlds(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)John Degenkolb (Germany) was a pre-race favourite but couldn't manage the win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) swarmed by photographers after his big win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) walks off the podium(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) won alone(Image credit: AFP)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) still coming to terms with his big win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The rainbow jersey of Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The gold medal and rainbow jersey went to Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) holds his gold medal aloft(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Simon Gerrans (Australia) contemplates what might have been(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Simon Gerrans (Australia) collects his first ever Worlds medal, a silver(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alejandro Valverde (Spain) is accustomed to this by now. He has three bronze medals from the last three years(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alejandro Valverde (Spain) on the podium(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) is congratulated after claiming the win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The Norway team car crashed during the race but thankfully no one was seriously injured(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The scene of the Norway team car crash(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) tried his best in the finale but came up short(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) celebrates while Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) curses(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski's (Poland) winning margin was just one second(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) kisses the Polish badge on his jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) had enough time to kiss his jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) celebrates his solo Worlds victory(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) claimed a first-ever Polish gold medal at the Worlds(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) had enough to celebrate his win(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) celebrates while the small group behind him sprints for the silver and bronze(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A long shot of the finale with Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) about to cross the line alone(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Spectators check out the scene of the Norway team car crash on the course(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Norway's team car was well and truly written off after the crash(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The front end of the Norway team car was severely crumpled(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Norway was forced to change cars after this crash(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Under an umbrella was a good place to be watching the race(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The crowds cheer on the peloton(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)There was still plenty of colour under the overcast skies(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A Portuguese flag waves in the wind(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The strain of the race starts to show on the riders faces(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A small group of riders off the back of the bunch(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Johan Vansummeran (Belgium) during the race(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Dani Moreno (Spain) launches an attack(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Sep Vanmarcke (Belgium)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Albasini (Switzerland) was aggressive on the final lap(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Jan Bakelants (Belgium)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Matti Breschel (Denmark)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Danilo Wyss (Switzerland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Warren Barguil (France) was active on the final climb(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A sliver of blue sky(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)It wasn't a great day weather wise but the peloton enjoys a brief respite from the rain(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The parcours saw plenty of riding recording a DNF today(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A small group off the back of the peloton(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)David Millar (Great Britain) during his final ever professional race(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)David Millar (Great Britain) powers on in the rain(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)David Millar (Great Britain) abandoned his final ever race(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)David Millar was honoured in his final by being handed the captaincy of the Great Britain team(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Plenty of clouds around but no rain for now...(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton on the first long climb of the course(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) during his race winning attack(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) quickly distanced the peloton(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) digs deep(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) checks his gap back to the chasers(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The crowds at the Ponferrada castle(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)