On Saturday, Remco Evenepoel did the unprecedented, becoming the first male to ever win gold in both the Olympic time trial and road race. Could he do something special again in September, in Switzerland?
The 2024 road worlds are headed to Zurich this year, and Evenepoel will be there. The road race is a hilly course, tough and undulating. But so what? Evenepoel just finished third at the Tour, and can do well on lumpy, punchy courses. As far as the TT goes, he’s the defending champion and, given his performance in Paris, he’s definitely the one to beat.
A race packed with favourites
The 2022 road race world champion will face formidable competition—one of whom wasn’t in Paris and is definitely hungry for a rainbow jersey. Tadej Pogačar, who dominated both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, is hoping to become the first cyclist (and only one of three in total) since Stephen Roche in 1987 to achieve cycling’s Triple Crown.
Pogačar, like Evenepoel, will have a strong team to support him. However, Belgium managed to outwit defending road world champion Mathieu van der Poel with solid tactics in Paris. Evenepoel countered after Van der Poel and his teammate Wout van Aert were caught and drove a breakaway pretty much by himself.
Ultimately, he burned everyone off his wheel but Valentin Madouas. The Frenchman managed to hold on long enough to stay ahead for the silver, but he too couldn’t hang on to Evenepoel’s wheel, let alone pull.
An incredible feat
No one in men’s cycling has ever won both Olympic events, as well as the rainbow jerseys. It would make for an unprecedented Quadruple Crown. Pro men started racing the time trial at the world championships in 1994. And, the Olympics added the event in 1996—yet, it’s still significant
The other rider that shouldn’t be discounted is defending champion Mathieu van der Poel, who, after a stunning Spring and a mediocre Tour de France—as well as a disappointing Olympics—will surely be hungry to defend his crown. Will the course be too hilly for the Dutchman, however?
The course takes in several of the smaller foothills that surround the Alps in the area. At 273.9 km, there’s an accumulated elevation of 4,470 m.
If you’re a cycling fan, you might be wishing for Pogačar to accomplish the Triple Crown—but think again. What about leveling that up with a Quadruple?
The road worlds take place September 21 – 29.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…