And for the main event of the week, we are here in Scotland for 10 laps around the famous Loch Ness, finishing at the picturesque Urquhart Castle. The first 7 laps we take from the steeper North side of Urquhart Castle before taking the much easier climb around Dochgarron Road for the last 3 laps.
Reigning Champion Silvio Herklotz is not attending due to missing the MGUCI deadline for his entry. As the last winner of a Hilly World Championship, way back in 2021, we are likely to see a new champion today.
The bookmakers favour the two best Puncheurs of the season, B World Champion Areruya (RWA) and Lopez (COL), with the hard 6% kick in the final kilometre having made a difference in the B World Road Race. Vansevenant (BEL) and the Kazakh pair Gidich (KAZ) and Lutsenko (KAZ) are next in line, and local hope Pidcock (GBR) is also among those with a big chance at glory today. The showdown at Loch Ness awaits, and the puncheurs are circling.
The flag drops—and Loch Ness comes alive. The 2024 World Championship is under way.
We go straight into action up the first ascent of the North side. And 5 riders have instantly attacked to get into the break: Craddock (USA) Per (SLO) Kiriakidis (GRE) Toupalik (CZE) Healy (IRL)
They're taking their shot at early glory and have 30 seconds over a group containing Groves (AUS), Bol (NED) and Cort Nielsen (DEN)
On the front of the Peloton, Belgium is taking the early chase with Kazakhstan and Rwanda helping up the climb. No casualties yet everyone survives the first grind of the climb
As we move past the Loch and down the other side of the climb, we have a group bridging across to the break:
Germany and Hungary make their presence known. The gap grows to 2 minutes as the peloton gives the break room to breathe.
Climb 2 of 10 in our circuit today, It’s smooth sailing for the escapees, 4'30 up and all legs still firing.
Climb 3 of 10 now and a view from the head of the Peloton, we are yet to see a single rider be dropped out of the group as they continue to climb very steadily up this climb for a 3rd straight ascent. The Gap is now 7"30 to the front with over 180km to go.
Climb 4 of 10 confirms no changes in the front group, all 14 are taking turns, and the gap is holding steady around the 6:30 mark.
Hungary come back to the front Sipos (HUN) is the man making the pacing on the front.
Climb 5 of 10 and halfway through our climbing for the day Hungary pacing on the front has brought the gap below 5 mins and for the first time today since lap 1 the Peloton can see the break at the start of the climb. The Gap is 4"24
Climb 7 of 10, The final heave up the North face. 80km to go, and the escapees are starting to feel the peloton’s breath.
But there's still no panic up front, the break continues to march on together as all 14 riders continue taking turns and powering the breakaway on.
Over the top of the climb this time, we see our first dropped rider of the day as Bennett (IRL) can't go the pace anymore, but astonishingly, he is the only one, and we still have a group of 172 riders in the peloton with 70km to go.
Climb 8 of 10 and our first time up Dongarroch Road. The break is now fully visible to the bunch, just 2"30 ahead. Fernandes (POR) steps up, throwing down a massive effort to keep that margin from crumbling further
The peloton is unmoved behind as not a single other rider is dropped on Lap 8 and the whole bunch will now hurtle down the other side as we get ready for the last 2 laps in the World Championships.
The break hits the climb first. The twisting gradient allows the peloton to watch them inch up. Cort Nielsen (DEN) ups the tempo harder than anything we’ve seen today. Gap shrinks to 1"25.
Now we start to see riders struggling at the back Habtom (ERI), Debesay (ERI), Izagirre (ESP) and Maciejuk (POL) are all dropped, and more are following ahead
That is because with 50km to go Pidcock (GBR) has attacked over the top of the climb, he's 1"15 behind the break and there's a reaction from Benoot (BEL) behind, which has the group lined out. The peloton is still 150 riders plus.
Benoot (BEL) is refusing to let Pidcock (GBR) get far up the road and has him pinned at just 8 seconds. Gidich (KAZ) and Valter (HUN) are both well positioned behind
The last time up Dochgarron Road with only 35km to go the break is still holding the peloton at 1 min even with the Pidcock (GBR) attack behind. Groves (AUS) is now on the front of the bunch, trying to keep this group’s chances alive.
Pidcock (GBR) is caught into the climb and Benoot (BEL) has carried on pacing into the bottom. Lutsenko (KAZ) sits on his wheel with Vansevenant (BEL) and Kudos (ERI)
Attack in the break! Groves (AUS) has made a move, Hocevar (SLO) counters easily. Boutopoulos (GRE) struggles on the wheel. Kiriakidis (GRE) is dropped after monster turns earlier for his teammate.
ATTACK! Vansevenant (BEL) has gone nuclear 31km out — A.Yates (GBR) and Kudos (ERI) go with him. The bunch is still numbering over 100 riders.
These three have quickly closed the break to 30 seconds. Groves (AUS) and Hocevar (SLO) are gapping the others but only by 10 seconds, and the peloton is a further 20 seconds behind the three escapees.
Counterattacks! Cresting the first of the two rises on Dongarroch Road, Lopez (COL), Valter (HUN), Schmid (SWI), Areruya (RWA), Oliver (NED), and Phinney (USA) have bridged the 20-second gap. They are now latching onto the back of the Kudos (ERI) group
Behind, Pogacar (SLO) is in between the groups at 11 seconds, with another 20 seconds to the main bunch of 130 riders.
14 riders have been dropped on the first part of the climb the main name among them is Ackermann (GER)
25km to go and the favourites group sits up once they catch Kudos (ERI). The break gains another 10 seconds over the top. The remaining breakaway:
Behind the group is still playing cat and mouse as they catch Kaczmarek (POL) from the break. Pogacar (SLO) has made it onto the back of the group. Behind, Hirschi (SWI) and Gidich (KAZ) are trying to bridge across on the flat road between climbs
America and Norway have put themselves on the front to try and bring everything back together as you can see the gaps are very small but we are starting to see some spilts. 22km to go.
Groves (AUS) reaches the base, Valter (HUN) attacks from behind.
The split seals and we now have 100 riders grouped up with 20km to go.
HUGE ATTACK!
Areruya (RWA), Hirschi (SWI) on his wheel but doesn’t stick. Lopez (COL), Valter (HUN), Pidcock (GBR) follow
Hirschi (SWI) closes the gap to Arreuya (RWA) but then refuses to take a turn and Pidcock (GBR) goes past with a full blown attack
He is blocked by Valter (HUN), who looks extremely strong. Riders are really struggling—among them Vansevenant (BEL) and Lutsenko (KAZ) who look to have cracked
but with only 1km left of climbing they may get lucky over the top of the climb.
Kudos (ERI), the TDF champion, launches from the opposite side and opens a gap.
This has split the group in pieces behind and there’s no Vansevenant (BEL) or Lutsenko (KAZ). Even more surprisingly, Gidich (KAZ) has fallen through the pack and missed the move.
Still not over the top of this long drag in the last 17km De Bie (BEL) has started to put a hard pace down on the front.
Oomen (NED) counters this into the final 500m of elevation, but he's going nowhere and just lines out the race.
He does bring a group clear though we have 31 riders in front dropping down into the final 10km. Theres then a group of 50 riders just 30 seconds behind so if the pace slows we could come back together.
8km to go Hirschi (SWI) goes for glory. Bernal (COL) and Demare (FRA) are attacking on the right side as well the Frenchman not waiting for a sprint.
This continues for the next 2km until Hirschi (SWI) is brought back. The second group has rejoined the first on the road and 82 riders will come into the finishing run to the Castle together. Vansevenant (BEL), Gidich (KAZ), Lutsenko (KAZ), Ardila (COL), Higuita (COL) all come back to the group.
Bernal (COL) has just kept the pace high since his attack, and under 5km to go the Giro winner is now putting his teammates first, trying to keep it hard enough to neutralise the pure sprinters.
2km to go the sprint is coming. Bernal (COL) has Lopez (COL) in his wheel. Areruya (RWA) is set behind, then Formolo (ITA), Schmid (SWI), Kudos (ERI), Latour (FRA), Demare (FRA), Aranburu (SPA). Valter (HUN) stalks behind. Ardila (COL) and Carboni (ITA) are furthest right. Gidich (KAZ) has fought back onto the rear of the leaders.
Here we go! under the flame rouge and just before the 6% wall. Lopez (COL) leads on the left, Areruya (RWA) in the middle, Demare (FRA) on the right, behind Schmid (SWI), De Bie (BEL), and Formolo (ITA). Gidich (KAZ) instantly cracks he spent too much energy bridging
We hit the wall Demare (FRA) cracks as well, the climb is brutal! Lopez (COL) and Schmid (SWI) lead by a bike length over Areruya (RWA). Formolo (ITA) is tucked right behind, with Valter (HUN), Kudos (ERI), Aranburu (SPA), and Stannard (AUS) chasing
Areruya (RWA) cracks! Lopez (COL) pushes on. Schmid (SWI) holds second. Formolo (ITA) and Valter (HUN) are closing in it’s tight!
Stannard (AUS) makes a move he boxes in Schmid (SWI), who's stuck behind Lopez (COL). Valter (HUN) into 2nd and still gaining as the gradient flattens
Stannard (AUS) cracks leaving the door open for Schmid (SWI), now alongside Valter (HUN), both half a bike length behind Lopez (COL). Lecuisinier (FRA), Pidcock (GBR), and Yates (GBR) are storming through
200m to go Schmid (SWI) may be leading. Valter (HUN) is coming back, and Lecuisinier (FRA) is flying on the left
Lopez (COL) finds another gear!
Can Schmid (SWI) and Valter (HUN) respond?
The line comes Lopez (COL) does it! Schmid (SWI) lunges but misses by a quarter bike length. Valter
is inches behind in 3rd place. The two young puncheurs fall to the ground after the line they've given everything, and hilly world championships don't come round every year; they look dejected.
Lopez is thrilled he gives Bernal (COL) one almighty hug over the line, his work to keep the pace high was invaluable!
4th is Lecuisinier (FRA) unlikely he will be dissapointed despite just missing the medals Formolo (ITA), Yates (GBR) Stannard (AUS), Pidcock (GBR) makes up the first wave of riders today some big results but no medals today.
and De Bie (BEL) in 9th was strong throughout though probably over extended himself. Vakoc (CZE) takes the final top 10 spot off Kudos (ERI)
Arreuya (RWA) will be disappointed in only 18th another who overextended trying to make the race hard on the last climb. The USA team had 5 riders in the final group but no top 15 another team that likely should have done better.
Lopez (COL) is the man of the day, though a wonderful sprint from the Colombian as his main rival cracked going to early he held strong to the line and takes the Rainbow Bands for the year.
Areruya (RWA)
Lopez (COL)
Gidich (KAZ)
Vansevenant (BEL)
Valter (HUN)
Formolo (ITA)
Pidcock (GBR)
Craddock (USA)
Per (SLO)
Kiriakidis (GRE)
Toupalik (CZE)
Healy (IRL)
Groves (AUS), 
Bol (NED) and 
Cort Nielsen (DEN)
Mamykin (RUS)
Abrahamsen (NOR)
Kaczmarek (POL)
Fernandes (POR)
Habtom (ERI), 
Izagirre (ESP) and 
Schmid (SWI), 
Ackermann (GER)
Lecuisinier (FRA) 
