World Cup: the season of the 'magnificent four'

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24
Sep

Vdp, Pogacar, Remco and Van Aert: this is how they arrive at the big date

They are the most anticipated protagonists, those for whom it is worth waking up at dawn to see them run and play for a World Cup. We are talking about the ' magnificent four ', that is, the main favorites for the victory of the world championship in line which will take place in Australia in a few hours.

Fans, loved and sometimes even criticized: to speak for them are the many successes already achieved and the emotions that in the last two years they have managed to convey to cycling enthusiasts and many of our fantamanagers who have chosen and deployed them in the formations and in all kinds of races.

In Wollongong they will go hunting for the first rainbow jersey of their career and we are going to find out how they arrive at the most important appointment of the year.

Mathieu Van der Poel : a 2022 to be divided in two for the unpredictable Dutch. In the first part he surprised the world by returning to Milan-Sanremo after back problems and finishing third. Then a positive Northern campaign in Belgium with victories at Dwars and an encore at Flanders. In decline at Roubaix (only ninth), at the Amstel he did not leave his mark despite the fourth place finish. Then the Giro d'Italia, where he presented himself by winning the inaugural stage and wearing the pink jersey. It came to an end after many escape attempts and wheeling up the climbs. However, he paid for the effort at the Tour de France, where he retired in the middle of the second week. After some rest, he immediately returned to win in minor races including the Giro di Wallonia and giving good signals. For Fantacycling, its 'worldwide' form is 80% .

Tadej Pogacar : he immediately won Uae Tour, Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, close to the success at Flanders closed in fourth place. After a month and a half of hiatus, also caused by a family bereavement, he won the Tour of Slovenia, presenting himself as the logical favorite on the Tour. Instead, he had to bow to Jonas Vingegaard, despite winning three stages and the youth jersey. The second place in Paris, with the very bad San Sebastian in which he retired, did not convince him to participate in the Vuelta. A normal physiological decline that now seems to be a memory since in Montreal, two weeks ago, he won by beating Van Aert in the sprint. The king has already returned. For Fantacycling its 'world' form is 90% .

Remco Evenepoel : The Belgian talent started without overdoing it in small one-week stage races. Won the Algarve, and second to Valenciana, he then began his journey towards the true seasonal goal of the Vuelta. The surprise came at the end of April with a number of his (40 km in solitary escape) to win the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Skipped the Giro and Tour, he seems destined to have a season of ups and downs: he wins the Tour of Norway, but is not a protagonist in the Tour of Switzerland. Yet, at the end of July, he regained San Sebastian by giving his opponents minutes. At the Tour of Spain he is not the main favorite, but he immediately shows that he has a great condition that leads him, thanks to the half-way time trial and opponents who jump like pins, to finish on the top step of the podium in Madrid. And at the World Time Trial he finishes third. Ready to have your say. For Fantacycling, its 'worldwide' form is 80% .

Wout Van Aert : first road race, after the cyclocross season, and immediately a victory at Omloop in Belgium. In March he was decisive in Primoz Roglic's victory at the Paris-Nice. He seems to be the number one favorite for the Northern campaign (even if he only finishes eighth at Sanremo) and instead, after the success at the E3 Saxo Classic, he is forced to stop for Covid. Skip Flanders and Amstel, back to Roubaix where he still finishes second, his 'favorite' podium step. In fact, he collects a flurry of placings such as at Liège (third), in two stages at Dauphiné (second, but also wins two stages), at Bemer Cyclassics and Montreal (2nd) in addition to the Grand Prix de Quebec (fourth). His work of art remains the Tour de France: green jersey in Paris, he wins three stages and is decisive in Hautacam for his teammate and later winner Vingegaard. The placements on the podium in the hamlets of the Grand Boucle? Five of them. Will he be the man to beat? For Fantacycling its 'worldwide' form is 85% .

And have you decided who to bet on for the World Cup?

Will you have all four of the big names we've written about or are you planning to give up on any of them? Let us know on our social channels!

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