The 2022 UCI Road World Championships will, as ever, showcase the world’s best cyclists battling for one of the most prestigious prizes in professional cycling: a rainbow jersey. However, there is a sense that the fields are not what they could be.
On the elite men’s side in particular, there are a host of big-name absences, owing to a wide range of reasons.
Some, such as home favourite Caleb Ewan, have simply not been selected. Others, such as Primož Roglič, have been ruled out through injury.
But other factors have come into play. One of them is the location in Australia, on the opposite side of the world to where almost all pro cyclists live and largely compete. Another is the controversial relegation race, with a number of trade teams unwilling to release their riders to their countries for Worlds.
Here, Cyclingnews takes a look at the biggest holes in the start list, and the reasons for their absences.
Not selected
First of all, we have the riders who wanted to race, were allowed to race by their trade teams, but were snubbed by their federations. Caleb Ewan (Australia) is the biggest name to miss out, having made a major target of the Worlds since the very start of the season.
The sprinter acknowledged that the Wollongong course, with 4000 metres of elevation gain, was hillier than he’d have liked but nevertheless backed himself to cope it and possibly contend in a reduced group finish. At the start of the season he spoke of how much his climbing had improved, but he was overlooked by the selectors, who have placed their eggs in the Michael Matthews basket.
“To be honest I don’t have much to say on the matter other than I’m heartbroken I won’t be there to represent my country and that I believe I deserved to be there,” Ewan said after receiving the news. “Anyways, sob story over.”
The other glaring absentee is Dylan Teuns (Belgium). The Belgian team is notoriously difficult to get into but the absence of the Flèche Wallonne champion has caused much head-scratching in Belgium, and for Teuns himself.
“The national coach did not really give a valid reason why I am not allowed to go. He just said I wasn’t there,” Teuns revealed. “I asked why, and then it was said that it is a bit because of the needs of the leaders, something like that. Apparently I couldn’t meet that need.”
Belgium head into Worlds with two leaders in Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…