Chris Froome may have missed out on the gold medal but the Briton was still delighted with bronze in Norway at the end of the best season of his career.
Froome finished third in the world championship time-trial behind champion Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands and Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic.
That added to the bronze medal he won with Sky in the team time-trial on Sunday and while it wasn’t the glorious finish to the season he had dreamed of, the 32-year-old said it was a great way to round off a year in which he won a historic Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana double.
“I’ve never medalled in the worlds before so it’s an amazing end to what’s been an unforgettable season for me,” said Froome, who picked up his fourth Tour title in July before his first Vuelta crown 10 days ago.
“Obviously the Tour de France and Vuelta were the highlight for me this year.
“Coming here on the back of that, just to give it everything I had, whatever was left in the legs – obviously I’m happy now to get to the end of the season.”
Froome had started slowly in Wednesday’s 31 km time-trial in Bergen.
He was only 19th at the first time check but had moved up to seventh by the foot of the 3.4km climb to the finish.
He was one of the fastest men up it and managed to snare third place, adding to his bronze medals in the time-trial at the last two Olympic Games.
And while he almost suffered the ignominy of being caught by Dumoulin, who had started 90 seconds after him, Froome was nonetheless gracious in defeat.
“Coming into the last kilometre I was obviously going full gas but I could hear the crowd cheering behind me,” said Froome.
“At one point I glanced over my shoulder and could see the orange jersey coming and thought ‘he’s flying!’”
“It didn’t change anything for me.
“I’m glad I’m here, I gave it everything I had and I’m happy with the effort I gave today.”
Froome admitted he was beaten by the better man, and a man in fine form who was a surprise winner of the Giro d’Italia in May.
“He’s been strong for a couple of years now, he’s obviously been riding at the top level for a while now so I’m not surprised.
“Obviously he’s had a fantastic season winning the Giro and then focusing on this world title.
“He was by far the strongest man out on the road today, no question there.
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