Finally the big day has arrived where an entertaining event comes to a close. Cycling World Championshipthe elite men’s road race already, with a few exceptions – like the Dane Jonas Vingegaard or the Belgians Wout Van Aert– presents one of the highest quality lists of participants in recent years, having to work hard on a demanding route of 273.9 kilometers and 4,470 meters of elevation gain, including departure from Winterhur and arrival at Zurich.
Runners have to do seven laps of the final circuit of 27 kilometers and 501 meters of elevation in and around the Swiss city. It is a circuit of constant up and down, where the climb Kyburg (1.1 km at 12% average gradient and ramp up to 16%), Zürichbergstrasse (1.1 km at 8% average gradient and maximum ramp of 15%) and Witikon (2.3 km 5.7% average slope and ramp up to 9% ) .
On paper, the three big favorites are the Slovenians Tadej Pogacar, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel and the dutch Mathieu Van der Poel. Grandson Raymond Poulidor is looking to revalidate last year’s title – last achieved by the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe2020, 2021–, the young Belgian cannibal, champion in 2022, will try to achieve what has not been achieved so far, to become champion in both road and time trial editions, and Pogacar, last year’s bronze, is a priori the highest favorite. The numbers back him up. This season he won all the events except two in which he participated and he did so with great authority, and he also came from achieving a massive victory in Grand Prix of Montreala Canadian classic somewhat similar to today’s World Cup route, although with less mileage or slopes and with lower quality rivals. Search ‘Pogi’ search to join Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche as the only male cyclist to complete the Cycling the Triple Crownwinning the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the cycling World Cup in the same season.
A saying with permission from other rivals, like his countryman Roglic –that it is not clear that it will help you– Jorgenson, Skjelmose, Alaphilippe, Gaudu, Pidcock, Almeida, Healy, Tiberi, Hirschithe Yates brothers or the powerful Spanish team, which arrived in Zurich with a strong block. The route fits the profile of the Spanish team and has runners like Pello Bilbaothat fit them like a glove and came with morale through the roof. Next to Gernika, Enric Mas, Mikel Landa, Carlos Rodríguez, Roger Adrià, Pablo Castrillo, Juan Ayuso and Alex Aranburu, under the command of Pascual Momparler.
The Spanish team is looking to break through the pools and achieve a gold medal that has not been achieved since Alejandro Valverde’s victory in Innsbruck (Austria) in 2018.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
