Greig Leach

When the Elite Men finally reappeared into the stationary camera lens, it was clear that Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Gianni Moscon (Italy) had been caught by the cream of the men's peloton. And that we were going to be treated to an intense mass sprint for the line, and for the World Road Championship. It was looking like Alexander Kristoff (Norway) was going to pay back all of his countrymen and women along the sides of the road in Bergen. Seemingly he had the better of the two time defending world champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia). But it was Sagan's perfectly timed bike throw (a move similar to a runner throwing their chest out to break the tape at the line) that won him an unprecidented third Men's Road World Championship. It was Michael Matthews (Australia) pounding his handle bars in frustration taking the bronze medal and Matteo Trentin (Italy) finishing just off the podium in fourth. For Kristoff, while disappointing not to win his home country Worlds, he can consol himself knowing he provided Norway with their only medal in the 2017 UCI Road World Championships. He will have a tough time equally Jeannie Longo (France) who has taken the title four times in a row from 1995-89 (there was no race in 1988 due to disputes between Russian and the United States over boycotting the Olympics). She came back in 1995 to get her fifth title. But for now he can claim the honor of the most consistent Men's UCI Road World Champion! Chapeau, Peto!