Van der Poel puts a damper on his world championship dreams: "The Montreal route is a touch too tough for me."

Far from being a hidden favorite, Mathieu van der Poel has decided to lay his cards on the table, nipping in the bud any enthusiasm surrounding a repeat of his title. The Alpecin-Deceuninck phenomenon, world champion in 2023 and on the podium two years ago in Zurich, is not hiding: the Canadian course in Montreal, scheduled for next Sunday, is "a bit too demanding" for his abilities.

A statement that weighs heavily, especially after Tadej Pogačar 's absence had completely reopened the race for the rainbow jersey. Van der Poel, however, seems to see this departure as little more than a minor detail: "The route is slightly different from Zurich, which had a lot of ups and downs but not a long climb like the one in Montreal now. The fact that Pogačar isn't there doesn't change much for me," he explained after his stage victory at the Tour du Luxembourg.

The Dutchman offers a clear-eyed tactical analysis, carefully considering those who have already put on a show on the same circuit during the Montreal GP, a race that saw Isaac del Toro triumph in a sprint ahead of Paul Seixas – third and fourth respectively in this year's Grande Boucle. Another big favorite, Remco Evenepoel , fresh from his second place at the Tour de France, shouldn't be overlooked: a field of rivals that, according to Van der Poel, makes the race too selective for his fast-rolling legs.

The three-time winner of both Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders has a physique and structure better suited to the classic cobblestones than to a circuit with long, selective climbs like the Canadian one. Despite this, the Dutchman has worked hard on his form: "Just like before the World Championships in Zurich, I tried to lose some weight. I notice it makes a big difference when I'm two kilos lighter than in spring.

But here's the real key: the World Championships, unpredictable by their very nature, are run without radios or communication with the admirals. "You never know at the Championships; they can be atypical races," Van der Poel emphasized with a hint of hope. "You race with the national teams, without communication, so it's not like other races."

A wild card that could favor the most experienced and tactically astute riders like himself. The Dutchman's announced strategy is clear: while Evenepoel, Seixas, and Del Toro will likely try to spark the race with long-distance attacks, Van der Poel is aiming to stay out of the way, hoping for a reunion that will lead to a bunch sprint. "It's always easier to have that kind of finish, but I think we simply have the right riders to be there if the race splits up early. That way, we can take some of the pressure off," he explained, referring to the solidity of his Dutch national team.