Valverde misses Worlds podium but finishes fifth in Richmond

Alejandro Valverde had finished third in the last three editions of the World Championships elite men's road race but a fourth year on the dias wasn't to be as the Spaniard crossed the line in fifth place. Valverde won his first Worlds medal when the race was last held on North American shores, 2003 in Hamilton, and has finished no worse than ninth bar two occasions since.