[2] Kévin Ledanois became the third French rider to win the title, after making a late solo move in the closing kilometers.

He held off Italy's Simone Consonni to take the gold medal, while Ledanois' team mate Anthony Turgis completed the podium, two seconds later.

The outgoing World Champion, Matej Mohorič, did not compete as he was no longer eligible – he moved to the UCI ProTeam Cannondale–Garmin for the 2015 season.

The circuit headed west from Downtown Richmond, working its way onto Monument Avenue, a paver-lined, historic boulevard that's been named one of the "10 Great Streets in America".

Halfway through the circuit, the race headed down into Shockoe Bottom before following the canal and passing Great Shiplock Park, the start of the Virginia Capital Trail.