\n<\/p>\n
For each champion and every winner there are those who narrowly missed out.<\/b><\/p>\n
The athletes who were on the verge of achieving greatness only to have the rug pulled from beneath their feet at the final stage.<\/p>\n
Some never get the chance at greatness again but for a few, those unfortunate, unlucky few, it appears that finishing second is to be their lot.<\/p>\n
Elfyn Evans is the latest to join those ranks.<\/p>\n
The quiet, softly spoken Welshman was leading the World Rally Championship after 13 rounds, each one four days of intensive racing across a range of testing terrain.<\/p>\n
But come the decisive final round in Saudi Arabia last week, normal service resumed.<\/p>\n
His narrow lead was whittled away and then left in the dust of Sebastien Ogier’s tyres as the Frenchman took a record equalling ninth title<\/a> and the Welshman was left to rue finishing second for an agonising fifth time. <\/p>\n There is a long list of those who never quite got it over the line – BBC Sport looks at some of sports other great runners-up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n