Welcome for this last day of the 2023 World Championships! We’re here for the Elite Road Race, which should see the better climbers of the world fight for victory. Here are the favorites, and the complete startlist:
Lecuisinier (France), Herklotz (Germany) and Kudus (Eritrea) are the favorites. Descending and acceleration skills might prove crucial with the day’s route.
7 riders quickly are out front: Vine and Canty (Australia), Per (Slovenia), Honore (Denmark), Ansons (Latvia), Mutsumine (Japan) and Arslanov (Russia).
Gebremedhin (Sweden) and Barbio (Portugal) are 19 seconds behind, the peloton is at 2’30.
The 9 leaders regroup soon after.
170 km to go. The peloton begins to tackle the break’s advantage: it’s now 5’54 after a maximum of 7 minutes. Champoussin (France), Kukrle (Czech Republic), Manfredi (Italy), Zwiehoff (Germany) and Kuss (USA) take the relays at the head of the group.
Still 12,5 km to ride before the first important climb of the day, the Coll de Comiols (19,5 km at 3,3%)
No damage done in this first big difficulty. The gap is up to 5’15.
The break begins the Mas Santmarc (11 km at 3,5%) with a 4’30 gap. Ansons, Per and Vine are suffering. Soulious (Greece) and Matsuda (Japan) are dropped from the pack.
The Coll de Bóixols (13,5 km at 5,5%) is the penultimate difficulty of the day. The still complete break has a 2’55 gap on a 175 men peloton. Natarov (Kazakhstan) is the main name not here.
The peloton bleeds in this climb, under the impulsion of Zwiehoff (Germany).
Soon after, Ardila (Colombia) and Warbasse (USA) push the pace. Cattaneo (Italy), Phinney (USA), Lopez (Colombia), Pogacar (Slovenia) and Lecuisinier (France) are close to the front.
Only 3 are remaining at the head of the race: Honore (Denmark), Ansons (Latvia) and Canty (Australia). The others are scattered in between.
95 men in the peloton, the two named before still pushing a strong pace in the descent. Lecuisinier is 3rd wheel, with Phinney, Herklotz and Kudus not far.
The three leaders begin the second passage of the Coll de Comiols (9,5 km at 4,7%). The gap still around 2 minutes. Somehwat of a surprise, Eastman (USA) is not in this group.
The Czech team worked all day long, and Hirt is the first to attack the favorites group! Only Kudus and Olivier (Netherlands) follow for now. Lopez (Colombia) works at the head of the peloton.
The three attackers quickly catch the break. Arslanov was the last of them to hold on.
It’s finished with the mountains ! The three leaders have 14 seconds on a 36 men group. Most of the big teams still have their leader in the peloton.
Arndt (Germany) works hard to bring everybody together. There’s still an explosive short climb and 35 km to go.
Let’s go with the fireworks! Lopez (Colombia), Gidich (Kazakhstan) and Hirt (Czech Republic) get 9 seconds on Stüssi (Switzerland), Yates (Great Britain) and Kudus. Herklotz tried to follow, but without success. The big favorites don’t seem to well positioned. For now, it’s Blums (Latvia) who’s working.
14 km to go. The formers, without Lopez, have 10 seconds on the peloton. That is, until Barguil (France) brings everyone back together!
A new attack! Yates (Great Britain) take some meters with Hirt (Czech Republic) again and… Herklotz! That could be a winning move. Pogacar (Slovenia) and Olivier (Netherlands) try to follow. We’re in the last, short climb.
And with only one acceleration, Herklotz is alone under the 10 km banner.
7,5 km left, and Hirt managed to join Herkotz. They have 30 seconds on Kudus. Barguil still at the head of the peloton.
Flamme rouge, and Herklotz accelerates again. Kudus still is some meters behind. Ignore the lapped riders.
Seems like a disillusion is coming for France.
500 m and Herklotz still has a gap!
Herklotz is the new world champion! Hirt is 2nd, after a great, aggressive race.
Kudus comes in 3rd, resisting to the peloton.
Phinney pips Kinoshita to 4th.
6th to 10th are Formolo, Lecuisinier, Yates, Pogacar and Arndt.
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