The men's peloton advances on Sunday towards a 273.7 km course in Montreal, with a final hilly circuit taken 12 times.
In the absence of Tadej Pogacar, all dreams are allowed. Double title holder but withdrawn since his fall in the Vuelta, the Slovenian leaves the field open in the world cycling championships, Sunday September 27, in Montreal. With a tiring course of more than 270 km, including 12 laps of the final circuit with three listed difficulties, the expected profile of the future world champion is that of a puncher-climber, capable of swallowing the difficulties of the day, like Demi Vollering during the women's race on Saturday, which ended with the same podium as that of the last Tour de France.
Remco Evenepoel is aiming for an unprecedented double. Now a quadruple time trial world champion, Remco Evenepoel could become the first rider in history to win the time trial and the road race in the same edition of the Worlds. Second last year in Kigali, the Belgian, 2022 world champion, is the big favorite and dreams of imitating Eddy Merckx, winner in Montreal of his third and last world champion title, fifty-two years ago. His teammate Wout Van Aert, with whom cohabitation has not always been easy, however, has the same ambition.
Paul Seixas doesn't talk about age. Five years after Julian Alaphilippe's second world title, another Frenchman is a declared candidate for the rainbow jersey: Paul Seixas. At barely 20 years old, the fourth in the last Tour de France is one of the main candidates for the iridescent jersey. In the event of victory, the tricolor prodigy would quite simply be the youngest world champion in history. To do this, he will be surrounded by a French team totally dedicated to his cause.
Watch out for the flying Mexican. If collectives like the Netherlands, Italy or the United States will be worth watching, single men can shine, like the Briton Tom Pidcock, but especially the Mexican Isaac Del Toro. Winner of the Montreal GP ahead of Seixas two weeks ago, he arrives at the head of a very modest Mexican selection. A free electron, he was designated by Evenepoel as his main opponent.
Let's set the record straight: here is the forecast program for the next few hours. 5:10 p.m.: entry into Montreal. 5:22 p.m.: entry onto the final circuit. 5:35 p.m.: first passage on the line. 9:21 p.m.: twelfth and final passage on the line. 9:42 p.m.: estimated arrival.
The French team toughens the race. Bruno Armirail and Alex Baudin moved to the head of the peloton, and increased the pace as they entered Montreal, from the first hills of the final circuit.
The peloton enters the final circuit, of which it will be necessary to complete twelve complete laps. The crowds are dense in the streets of Montreal, the fireworks will begin soon.
SLOVAK MASSAGER ALERT! Vladimir Kovacik dropped out of the peloton, entering Montreal, after more than a hundred kilometers of racing.
France reveals itself in turn. While we have already seen all the favorite nations at the controls of the peloton, Bruno Armirail comes to catch some wind when crossing the bridge. The start of the tricolor plan?
The peloton approaches the Samuel De Champlain Bridge, which spans the Saint Lawrence to enter Montreal. The leaders are at the front, watch out for the wind!
The 16 leading men increase their lead, which reaches 8 minutes for the first time.
There is excitement in the peloton as they approach the Saint-Laurent, which the runners will cross via a 3 km long bridge. We are wary of the wind, and of a possible edging, and the leaders move back to the front.
Before the serious things begin and the entry onto the final circuit 161 km from the finish, we recall the main favorites: the Belgium of Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, the France of Paul Seixas, the Mexican Isaac del Toro, without forgetting the American, Spanish and Italian collectives, or even the British Tom Pidcock. It’s also difficult not to mention the Dane Mads Pedersen, and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel.
