One World Cup, too many favorites

2023-08-05 19:48:41
In this renaissance cycling, each race usually rewards the people who populate the shoulders or cling to the sofa. Both the Monuments and the great tours have recovered their unlikely nooks and crannies that made cycling an uncertain, mysterious sport. The skirmishes are back, the runners with an aura of legend, the fictional stories… and this Sunday’s World Road Championship between Edinburgh and Glasgow is the ideal breeding ground for another fight of giants in search of the rainbow lycra. Remco Evenepoel arrives in Scotland at a full level after winning the Clásica de San Sebastián. He defends the world champion jersey, he is insatiable, his quality is infinite and, furthermore, he is supported by the best team in the World Cup. Because Belgium surrounds Evenepoel with talents like Wout van Aert, who wouldn’t be unreasonable for him to raise his fists in Glasgow; the very fast Jasper Philipsen, winner of four stages and the green jersey in the last Tour de France; Victor Campenaerts, Yves Lampaert, Jasper Stuyven… A unique team. But when historic runners like Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogacar start from the finish line, uncertainty grows. The first, the Dutchman Van der Poel won the Milan-San Remo and the Paris-Roubaix this same year; In addition, despite having run the Tour in the background (exclusively at the service of his partner at Alpecin, the aforementioned Philipsen), he marked the World Cup in red on his calendar. The route, with only two noteworthy slopes, conforms to the characteristics of the Kapellen off-roader. The second, Pogacar, leads a weak Slovenia without Mohoric or Roglic. The Balkan prodigy steps on Edinburgh injured after a Tour of lights and shadows, but his class is such, his hunger, his ability to adjust to any type of terrain, that it would not be any surprise to see him smile at the top of the podium . Related News Standard cycling No Evenepoel wins his third San Sebastián Classic, beating Pello in a sprint Bilbao ABC The current world champion equals Marino Lejarreta as the cyclist with the most victories in the San Sebastián race Likewise, in the wake of these three capital cyclists, Other talents such as the Danish Mads Pedersen and Kasper Asgreen, the two-time champion Julian Alaphilippe or his compatriot Laporte have options to wear the rainbow jersey throughout the coming season. Spanish low profile Without those two boys who excite Spanish cycling such as Juan Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez; without Pello Bilbao, who is perhaps the national cyclist in the best shape today; and without an injured Oier Lazkano, who, due to the shape and characteristics of the tour, was the best homeland asset to surprise in Scotland, the team coached by Pascual Momparler is far from the great favourites. However, despite the casualties, the Spanish hopes to play a good role in the World Cup go through the wheelers Álex Aranburu and Iván García Cortina. In addition, the versatile veteran Ion Izagirre, winner of a stage in the recent Tour, could also have his chance. Likewise, the selection is completed by: Jesus Herrada, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Gonzalo Serrano, Roger Adriá and Jesús Ezquerra.
#World #Cup #favorites