The world championship brings glory for a day, but leaves an indelible memory painted on the jerseys of the riders. That rainbow border on the sleeves serves to distinguish those who have made it from those who have never reached that goal. Mathieu van der Poel thinks that the time of his glory has come, and that he must hurry. «I'm getting older, the chances are decreasing every year - he told Het Nieuwsbald - I hope one day to become world champion and to cross the target from the list. It is a very difficult race to win. I only participated twice, in Leuven I was returning from a back injury. It wasn't a fiasco, but on Sunday I hope to get closer ». In front of the Vdp, the usual opponent, Van Aert, will be found, but the two-way fight could, as often happens, be enriched by other protagonists, both expected and less. One of these is Tadej Pogacar who plays a little with hole cards: “ I want the World Cup, but I wouldn't change it with Lombardia. The Giro 2023? I do not come…". And what does Julian Alaphilippe do?

He has a coach behind him like Thomas Voeckler, who this morning at L'Équipe says he refuses to talk about pressure, but adds that the success of the last two years does not give him the right to be less demanding. "I don't want us to start thinking that we have nothing to lose because we have won the previous two times." At the height of a season full of falls and injuries, the bi-world champion could land an unexpected tail shot. However, it is unlikely that the musketeer after the crash of the Vuelta may already have found the right condition, but he is a champion and he will have that border on the shirt.

ATTEND THE FANTACYCLING MEETING NEXT OCTOBER 1st!

SIGN UP HERE 👉 https://fantacycling-shop.myshopify.com/