Mechanical problems cost Britain's Bradley Wiggins any chance of a medal at the Road Cycling World Championships time trial in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
Wiggins, a six-time world champion on the track, lay third on the final climb of the three-lap circuit but was forced to change his bike and finished 21st.
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara won in dominant style to equal Michael Rogers' record of three wins in the event.
Sweden's Gustav Larsson was second, with Germany's Tony Martin third.
Another British rider, Christopher Froome, finished 18th.
Cancellara, who is also the reigning Olympic champion, clocked a time of 57 minutes, 55.74 seconds over the 49.8km course.
Wiggins furious after bike failure
His victory on home soil was never in doubt but an intriguing battle soon developed for the other places on the podium.
Larsson, who was passed by Cancellara despite starting a minute ahead of him, performed strongly over the second half of the race to take the silver medal.
And Wiggins - who was caught by both the top two riders - was well-placed to win bronze until, inside the last 10km, a fault developed with the chain and back brake on his bike and he had to wait for a replacement because the GB team car was not behind him.
The delay ended his bid for a medal and the 29-year-old Londoner showed his frustration by climbing off his bike and throwing it to the ground.
"The brake pulled over because I'd dropped my chain at the bottom of the climb," Wiggins told Cycling Weekly. "The brake is behind the chain ring and it just moved the brake caliper over.
"I did the climb because I didn't want to change at the bottom with it rubbing and thought I'd change it at the top.
"I jumped off not knowing that the car wasn't there. And that was it really. It was race over."
Wiggins disappointed at mechanical problem
Despite his misfortune, Wiggins, who finished fourth at this year's Tour de France is happy with what he has achieved in the last few months.
"I think it's been a pretty good season," he added. I came here and did what I wanted to do. I feel I had good form and rode it pretty well until the mechanical.
"It's just the way it is. I've done enough of these to know that kind of thing happens and to be honest I've had a lot of luck this year.
"I've come through two grand tours without crashing once. It's been pretty good really and a bit of bad luck at the end of the year is the way it goes. A lot of it really is my own fault. I've taken a few risks with equipment and things and unfortunately it happened today."
Cancellara, the champion in 2006 and 2007 before missing last year's race because of fatigue, will now switch his attention to the men's road race on Sunday.
"It's a great result for me, I'm in great form and racing at home in front of all these Swiss flags and supporters was a huge motivation for me," said Cancellara.
Tough course will be fun - Pooley
"I will see how I feel once I've had a rest and a good massage. But, thanks to the racing I did in Spain and the training I've had, I feel confident that I can win on Sunday."
Britain's nine-man squad - minus the ill Mark Cavendish and Wiggins - will be led by David Millar, while Saturday's women's road race team features defending champion Nicole Cooke, Pooley and Lizzie Armitstead in their six-strong squad.
Men's time trial result:
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) 57 minutes 55 seconds 2. Gustav Larsson (Swe) + 1 min 27 sec 3. Tony Martin (Ger) + 2 min 30 sec 4. Tom Zirbel (US) + 2 min 47 sec 5. Marco Pinotti (Ita) + 3 min 02 sec 6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) + 3 min 08 sec 7. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) + 3 min 11 sec 8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) + 3 min 20 sec 9. Ignatas Konovalovas (Lit) + 3 min 33 sec 10. Bert Grabsch (Ger) + 3 min 37 sec
Selected others:
18. Christopher Froome (GB) + 4 min 34 sec 21. Bradley Wiggins (GB) + 4 min 50 sec
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