We’ve talked about it quite a bit for almost a week, with the followers and those mainly concerned: the runners. We must already admit, the routes of the last World Championships in Belgium, Australia, Italy and Scotland were not bad at all. But the one in Switzerland this weekend should be even more exciting. Well, less than what could/should have happened in Valais in 2020 and which was canceled because of this nasty Covid. But still.
Everyone will tell you, the bookmakers first (read box), the circuit around Zurich seems cut out for Tadej Pogacar. When a runner’s rating is 1.55 for a 270 kilometer race and with around twenty potential and credible opponents, the matter seems to have been concluded. But there will be so much to do this Sunday among the men that you should all set an alert on your smartphone and tune in to RTS2. Because it’s going to be crazy.
The affair will begin with a loop around Winterthur, just to spice things up. First 33.5 km with the climb to Buch am Irchel which is quite steep. Then, direction Zurich, but via the Kyburg climb, which will also hurt your legs. And there, after almost 70 kilometers and the climb towards Binz, the peloton will enter the final circuit and will be directly put into tune. Because the Zurich loop is nasty and long…
Tadej Pogacar and the others
It’s easy to create a list of favorites. All you have to do is take a look at the betting sites and you are served. The bookmakers give Tadej Pogacar the clear favorite. For a stake of 10 francs, the Slovenian’s victory will only bring you a profit of 5 francs. An incredible figure, when you know the hazards of a cycling race of more than 270 kilometers. That’s how “Pogi” seems a leg or two above the competition.
Behind the winner of the last Tours of France and Italy, we find the Belgian Remco Evenepoel, generally rated at 5 to 1. Followed by the defending champion Mathieu van der Poel (8/1), the Bernese Marc Hirschi (16/1 ), the American Matteo Jorgenson (25/1), the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (25/1), the French Julian Alaphilippe (40/1), the Belgian Maxim Van Gils (40/1), and the Irish Ben Healy (45/1) and the Briton Tom Pidcock (50/1).
On lematin.chsince we are players, we friends a coin on Stefan Küng, because that’s how it is. It’s more than 130 to 1, but we’ll always believe it.
Each tour will offer the trifle of more than half a kilometer of elevation gain. During the day, we will approach 5000 meters of climbing, which is equal to a huge mountain day in the Vuelta and the Giro and more than a queen stage in the Tour de France. Two climbs in a row, at the start of the circuit, are on the program and this is undoubtedly where everything will be played out. One, two or three rounds from the end, let’s be crazy, it will depend on Pogacar, a lot, Evenepoel, a little, and others, possibly.
The first climb, via Zurichbergstrasse and a stretch on the Zurich Zoo road, is not impressive: 1.1 km at 8% average. But just before its peak, there is a stretch at around 17% and it will hurt. Especially since the best will have kept a little under the calf for a short descent of a kilometer and a half, before attacking the main course. If any deviations must definitely be made, it will be just afterwards, towards Witikon. It’s a strong false flat of 2 terminals, less than 6%, with a small passage to 9%. The best will already be far away.
The difference should then be created, but if a few teams (Belgium, Netherlands… Switzerland?) still have manpower, they will have to be put to work. Because there will be around fifteen kilometers left (poorly flat, downhill, a small bump, then completely flat) towards Zurich’s Sechseläutenplatz, where the new king of the world will be crowned. If a small group arrives at a sprint, the final straight is almost 5 kilometers.
But above all it should be a triumphant arrival for a single man, who will have time to enjoy…
* Some articles about the Cycling Worlds were written before the death of the young Muriel Furrer.
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