The British team went into the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire eager to get the race going on the final lap in Harrogate.

Elite men's road race team leader Ben Swift finished 31st, with Tao Geoghegan Hart doing slightly better in 26th The rest of the team, including 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, after heavy rain and temperatures dominated the race all day left.

"Yeah, it was definitely tough," Swift told a shivering reporter as he attempted to warm up at the finish.

"It was a really tough day. The weather was epic. It will look cool later when you see pictures and stuff, but it was actually really cold at the end. When it was that cold, we had to take off our clothes and get ready for the finish. But we had a good competition."

The British team, along with several other countries, had no answer when the winning break formed with 33 km to go. Mads Pedersen (Denmark) won the three-man sprint battle ahead of Matteo Trentin (Italy) and Stefan Küng (Switzerland), while the rest of the riders continued to break away by one or two. Britain was unable to send a rider to any of the breakaway groups, but thought they could support Swift once the race was back on track. However, at the finish line, Swift had nothing to show for it.

"It was definitely hard and cold. It was windy and there were a lot of hills with a lot of grip that made it very difficult. These uphills were like a finishing circuit, they were really difficult.

"I think this is the most difficult World Championship so far. Qatar was flat, there was a crosswind and the weather was warm. The course had a lot of punchy, short climbs and the weather made it very difficult."

"I think this was the worst competition I've ever been to at a World Championships.

Despite the worst conditions, Swift and his last support rider, Geohegan Hart, were not about to throw in the towel.

"I don't want to give up. We're going until we can't go any further."