[2] Following on from countryman Kurt Asle Arvesen in 1997, Sven Erik Bystrøm became only the second Norwegian rider to win the world title.

He made a late break on the final climb, with around 5 km (3.1 mi) remaining, and held off the peloton; he ultimately soloed to victory by seven seconds.

The outgoing World Champion, Matej Mohorič, did not compete as he was no longer eligible – he moved to the UCI ProTeam Cannondale for the 2014 season.

[4] The first 4 km (2.5 mi) were flat, after which the climb to Alto de Montearenas started, with an average gradient of 8%.

The Alto de Compostilla was a short climb of 1.1 km (0.68 mi), at an average gradient is 6.5% with some of the steepest parts at 11%.