Rather rise early or go to bed late? It will be necessary to choose to follow the men’s road race of these world cycling championships, on the night of Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 September. The peloton will leave at 2:15 a.m. French time for a scheduled arrival in the early morning, around 9 a.m. (live on France 3 from 5 a.m. and on france.tv). Taste.
A course favorable to punchers
Like the women’s race, the start fictitious will be given inland, at Helensburgh. The peloton will then join the magnificent landscapes of the south-east coast of Australia. After about thirty kilometers by the sea, the riders will enter Wollongong to attack a first loop of 34 kilometers. This will lead them to the top of Mount Keira, the longest climb of the day with an average gradient of 5% over 8.7 kilometers, which should begin to skim the peloton.
But the world title should be played in the second circuit, which the riders will take 12 times, with the justice of the peace, Mount Pleasant. A climb of just over a kilometer at 7.7% on average (and passages at 13%) in the heart of the residential areas of Wollongong. The arrival will be placed at the bottom of the 6.9 kilometers downhill, after a few technical bends in the city center and a short bump before the red flame. Total distance: 266.9 kilometers.
Favorites: Wout van Aert and the others
If the reigning double world champion Julian Alaphilippe will naturally be scrutinized, all eyes will be on Wout van Aert, the big favorite. After a failure at the Worlds at home last year, the Belgian intends to wash away the affront, as evidenced by the organization of his end of the season. After an XXL Tour de France in July, the winner of the green jersey rested above all. He arrives in Australia with four races run in a month, including a victory at the Bretagne Classic.
The Jumbo-Visma giant even skipped the time trial of these world championships, leaving it to Remco Evenepoel to represent the flat country in the event (3rd). The recent winner of the Tour of Spain will also be Belgium’s other weapon on Sunday.
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Among the other favorites is, without much surprise, Tadej Pogacar. But the Slovenian will be deprived of his most important supporters. Not recovered from his fall on the Vuelta, Primoz Roglic is missing, as are lieutenants Matej Mohoric and Luka Mezgec. The Dutchman and grandson of Raymond Poulidor Mathieu van der Poel, the local Michael Matthews or the Eritrean Biniam Girmay will also be to watch.
What chances for the Blues?
On the French side, the great unknown is called Julian Alaphilippe. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider had a bad season and fell again three weeks ago during the Vuelta. “I’m not in the best condition, confirmed the double world champion on Wednesday. I’m definitely not 100%.”
As a result, coach Thomas Voeckler has decided to cover his tracks and could be tempted to play another card in the final on Sunday. Benoît Cosnefoy, winner of the Grand Prix de Québec under the nose and beard of Van Aert, was recalled at the last moment. While Florian Sénéchal, Christophe Laporte or even Pavel Sivakov could feel their wings growing.