Conor White recovered from a heavy fall to finish in the middle of the field at the UCI World Gravel Championships in Halle, Belgium, on Sunday.

White finished 114th in the 250-strong field in his first attempt at the 182 kilometre race and is likely to have finished in the top 100 but for falling during a particularly muddy section and having another rider crash into him while he was on the floor.

A mud-splattered White then bravely remounted his bike after falling to around 190th position before fighting his way back on the final lap to finish just outside the top 100.

The race was won by former road world champion Mathieu van der Poel, from Netherlands, after he dropped breakaway companion Florian Vermeersch, from Belgium, on the final lap of the race to claim the eighth rainbow jersey of his career. Belgium’s Quinten Hermans took the bronze medal.

White has had a whirlwind few weeks competing at the highest level, finishing 39th in the time-trial at the road world championships in Zurich last month.