Šķujiņš on modest World Championship finish: "Great results don't always happen"

Latvian cyclist Toms Šķujiņš said after the World Championship road race that he had hoped for a considerably better result than he managed to achieve.

Speaking after the finish, Šķujiņš described the race as very tough. As expected, French riders took control of the race, particularly once the peloton entered the circuit laps. The pace was extremely high, and at one point a decisive split occurred in the main group. During that phase, Šķujiņš pushed as hard as he could but was unable to go any faster. He added that he began to feel physically better toward the end of the race, but by then the race was already coming to a close.

Weaker result than in recent years

Šķujiņš's performance this year fell short of his results in previous seasons — he finished eighth at the 2023 World Championship, fourth in 2024, and fifth last year. This year's placing did not match his expectations.

Šķujiņš thanked everyone who supported him during the race. He noted a saying about not being able to exceed one's own limits, adding that while previous years brought better outcomes, this year's result was more modest. He stressed that the team again did everything possible, but an outstanding result isn't always attainable.

Next race in a week

Šķujiņš will soon return to competition in Europe, having been named to the start list for the European Championship road race, scheduled for October 4 in Slovenia. He said his main focus now is recovery after the demanding race, with a week considered sufficient time to rest before flying back to Europe for his next start.