Canyon Eisberg were left frustrated after missing the decisive split in the Memorial van Coningsloo in Belgium on Sunday.
Despite tireless efforts to bridge across to the 11-man breakaway, Tim Elverson’s squad ultimately had to admit defeat.
Swede Gustav Höög, of Team Co-op, outgunned Team Wiggins pair Nathan Draper and Jacques Sauvagnargues to win the 179.9km UCI 1.2 battle in Bonheiden.
Meanwhile Harry Tanfield, who was ninth in the race last season, was the first Canyon Eisberg rider home as he crossed the line 49 seconds adrift in 28th position.
Tanfield, alongside his brother Charlie Tanfield and Charles Page, had made multiple attempts to get across to the leading group.
The final effort, a 14-man chase including the Great Ayton brothers, was a minute down when it was brought to heel with 20km remaining.
Four riders escaped inside the final 10km, leaving the main bunch which by now numbered just 57, to sprint for 16th place on the line.
Charlie Tanfield finished in the bunch for 52nd. So did Max Stedman, who rolled over the line in 70th position.
Stedman had been instrumental in an early move which threatened to go away after just 20km of the race, which started in Wavre.
The 22-year-old, from Berkshire, attacked with five companions before both Tanfields join in as the group swelled to 15.
Page was among those who attempted to jump across the gap but the race was back together after 50km.
A puncture for Louis Rose-Davies and mechanical for the team’s Kiwi debutant Ryan Christensen put the pair out of position when the big move did go.
And that was that. Page sparked the efforts to bridge, riding hard with two companions in the gap for a considerable time.
But it wasn’t to be for the British squad, who will return to Belgium for the 1.2 Dwars door de Vlaamse Ardennen on Saturday.
That is quickly followed by the 1.2 Midden-Brabant Poort Omloop in Holland 24 hours later. Click here for the full result from the Memorial van Coningsloo.
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