I have never been so close to gold “- Swedish Dagbladet

But a spurt there was – and there was the Swedish star strong enough to fix the bronze behind victorious Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

Aside from a major crash after just over three mil each race in the valley around Spanish Ponferrada long uneventful. But the attack was to be expected, the longer the point, when several of the favorites wanted to avoid a sprint. Not least, last year’s silver medalist Emma Johansson.

For she is no sprinter.

– I have never been so close to the gold, I have not. But I am still proud of what I dared to do out on the track, that I dared to run for gold. Winning a bronze medal is a bit like a bonus, although I certainly will grieve me that I had not ended up top of the podium, says Emma Johansson to the TT when she received the bronze medal around his neck.

When three of the twelve mile remained began to rain, both the water and attacks. Breakaway was picked up by the peloton, the race became tighter, and Johansson was constantly in the lead.

So, with just five kilometers left, attacked the Swedish language in an attempt to avoid a sprint – and came away with BRITISH Lizzie Armitstead, Elisa Longo Borghini Italian language and reigning world champion Marianne Vos of the Netherlands.

– It was a good situation even if I do not want to come in with Marianne and Lizzie.

With three kilometers to go she attacked again.

– The plan was that I would run into the ground, for I drive to the slopes, it means that everyone else must drive to the slopes, and then they get tired. And I’m tired and can manage to make them tired, I still have one more chance to perform in a sprint.

But Emma Johansson did not come loose.

Instead came a chasing group of riders caught up with the four stars only one kilometer left to the finish.

– Had we been able to come in with the group of four, where it might have been the best option for me says Emma Johansson and then explains why.

– My sprint is not worse when I’m tired. I have almost always the same sprint, it’s a little my strength and also my weakness. When there is an easier race so I did not have the super sprint as purspurtarna have. But when people start to get tired so I am still as strong.

spurt was so dense that a photo finish was required after the finish. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was fastest and won the gold, German Lisa Brennauer was second and Emma Johansson finished third.

Of the four secessionists reached only Johansson podium. Marianne Vos, who won medals in seven straight World Cup, was only ten.

– it shows a bit that I still had an incredible day, I still managed to be up there, even though we will run in at the end of this group, says Emma Johansson.

She now has two World Championship bronze and one silver each from the World Cup and the Olympics on his resume.

– Maybe one day, says she on the gold. It’s so darn tough competitions nowadays. VM is one level higher than everything else.