# Flanders2021, countdown / 1

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22
Sep

Sunday the World Cup in Belgium: favorites and protagonists

The World Road of Sunday, September 26 professionals in Belgium, according to the bookmakers, has a big favorite (Wout Van Aert) but there are many national at the start ready to do battle.

Some will not have many teammates available but may be among the protagonists such as the eternal Peter Sagan , Michal Kwiatkowski and Alexander Kristoff or the promises Joao Almeida , Alexey Lutsenko and Mark Padun . Instead, there are teams that may have more cards to play to bring home a medal. Here is the first part of Fantacycling's analysis of the most important national teams:

AUSTRALIA - The team will have two captains: Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews . But if the latter is certainly not in the best condition and has not won for over a year, the sprinter from Sydney could be the surprise as in the Milan-Sanremo where no one has managed to break him on the Poggio. For vanishing points are Luke Durbridge , Nathan Haas , Nick Schultz , Miles Scotson , Robert Stannard and Harry Sweeny . Rating: 6.5

SPAIN - Enric Mas and Alejandro Valverde are absent, the team is far from the glories of the past but could take advantage of a sprint of a small group to place Ivan Garcia Cortina and Alex Aranburu . With them there will be Imanol Erviti , Gonzalo Serrano , Jesus Antonio Soto , Roger Adrià , Gorka Izagirre and Carlos Rodriguez . Rating: 6

SWITZERLAND - The leader Marc Hirschi has shown a good condition in the last races held at the European Championship and in Luxembourg. We see him in the top ten at the end in a formation that also lines up Stefan Kung as second striker. With them Stefan Bissegger , Silvan Dillier , Fabian Lienhard and Michael Schar . Rating: 6.5

GREAT BRITAIN - The long path does not seem to favor Thomas Pidcock and Ethan Hayter , on which the British are aiming for a good result. In the event of a sprint finish, Mark Cavendish and Jake Stewart may appear, but only in the case of a "light" race. Doing the dirty work will be Fred Wright , Luke Rowe , Ben and Connor Swift . Rating: 7

DENMARK - On paper it is a very strong national team. He has at least three points even if Kasper Asgreen starts from pole position compared to his teammates. Attention to Mikkel Honorè , to Michael Valgren , winner of two races in Italy last week, and Magnus Cort , who made sparks at the Vuelta. Question mark on Mads Pedersen , who will perhaps point to Roubaix. The Danes will also have Mikkel Bjerg , Andreas Kron and Mads Wurtz Schmidt . Rating: 8

UNITED STATES - Possible revelation? There are escape men like Quinn Simmons , Matteo Jorgenson and Lawson Craddock but also Robin Carpenter , hero of the Tour of Britain. Brandon McNulty disappointed in the world time trial but at the Olympics, in a dry race, he did well. And then there is Neilson Powless , king of San Sebastian. Rating: 6.5

Lorenzo Lucon - Fantacycling Team

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