Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski is the new world champion having triumphed in Ponferrada, Spain, with a cunning late attack.

Kwiatkowski made his move on the descent of the penultimate climb, bridging across to a four-man break before quickly bypassing the escapees and soloing to the finish to record a narrow victory.

Six riders arrived in the finishing straight in hot pursuit of Kwiatkowski but were left to sprint for silver, with Australia’s Simon Gerrans winning that battle ahead of Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

These photos tell the story of the 2014 UCI Road World Championships.