Cycling Worlds: the peloton begins the final circuit in Montreal

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 Double title holder but withdrawn since his fall in the Vuelta, the Slovenian leaves the field open in the world cycling championships, Sunday September 27, in Montreal.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 demanding 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.

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. His teammate Wout Van Aert, however, has the same ambition.

Paul Seixas doesn't talk about age. At barely 20 years old, the fourth in the last Tour de France is one of the main candidates for the iridescent jersey. 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.

The Côte Camillien-Houde (1.6 km at 7.5% average) will be the main difficulty of the day for the runners. But the circuit will include three other steep slopes: Chemin de la Polytechnique (780 m at 6%, including 200 m at 11%), Avenue Pagnuelo (534 m at 7.5% average) and Avenue du Parc to finish (around 600 m at 4%). All on a 13.4 km loop around Mount Royal, taken 12 times. 3,803 meters of positive altitude difference await the runners.

The Portuguese Afonso Eulalio, 9th in the Montreal GP recently, was left behind. The Blues regroup at the front of the peloton after the first crossing of the line, and take on the weight of the race. Which melts the lead of the leading group, which has lost more than three minutes since entering the circuit.

First passage on the Côte de la Polytechnique, and the French continue to set a strong pace at the head of the peloton, assisted by the Swiss. The battle is already beginning, as rain begins to fall into the Montreal sky. 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. Vladimir Kovacik dropped out of the peloton, entering Montreal, after more than a hundred kilometers of racing.