The Americans in 1982 have been far from the only national team to rue a lack of harmony at the worlds.

In fact, as recently as 2013, Spain were left to ponder how they had finished second and third in Florence but not taken the top step of the podium.

To some, the answer was clear – as Joaquim Rodriguez attacked and seemingly teed himself up for victory, Alejandro Valverde failed to stop the chase from an elite group behind.

Valverde’s then Movistar team-mate Rui Costa attacked, caught Rodriguez inside the final kilometre and sprinted to victory.

Valverde claimed he simply hadn’t had the legs to track Costa’s move or disrupt the chase – but whatever the reason, the end product was tears on the podium for Rodriguez and delight for Portugal’s first ever UCI road world champion.