World Championship rider ratings: Five-star Wout Van Aert hoping for no rogue Remco Evenepoel in road race

23.09.2022 - 17:33 eurosport.com

It's the big one. The last big one of the season, at any rate. The World Championship road race means the opportunity to sport the iconic rainbow bands for an entire season, and a rainbow trim on every jersey worn for the rest of their career.

Wherever it takes place, the circuit setup means it is a race that tends to follow a particular formula. The excitement builds with every passage of the finish line, while riders pull out as their day's work is done.

Ad The men's course in Wollongong comprises a 60km run-in via Mount Keira (7.5km, 5.7% average gradient) followed by 12 laps around the city.

The climbing (4000m in total) is a lot, and sure to eat into the riders reserves. This more than usual could be a year that favours the bigger (stronger, faster, better) teams, with the first name on our lips likely the main beneficiary.

Sporting rowing sprint FIVE Tadej Pogacar Wout Van-Aert Belgium

Remco Evenepoel says his «ultimate dream» is to win the Tour de France, but says he may not ride the event in 2023. Evenepoel, of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, won his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a Espana in September and followed that up by taking the men's road race title at the World Championships just weeks later. Ad The Belgian has therefore well and truly arrived in cycling's elite, but an appearance in the sport's blue riband event may have to wait, given Evenepoel's noises towards riding in May's Giro d'Italia instead.

Gustav Iden wins Ironman Kona World Championship, smashes course record

Gustav Iden won the Ironman Kona World Championship in a course record time, becoming the second consecutive Norwegian to win the men’s world title and the first to do so in Kona.

Il Lombardia 2022 – Who is riding? When is it on TV? Tadej Pogacar favourite but why no Remco Evenepoel?

A clash with his wedding means the newly crowned world champion will not show off his rainbow bands in the final Monument of the season. Fresh from scooping a famous Vuelta-Worlds double, Remco Evenepoel is not willing to change the date of his nuptials to add a second Monument win to his swelling palmares this year, the Belgian having won Liege-Bastogne-Liege back in April.

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'Too stupid for words' – Remco Evenepoel to Ineos rumours shut down by Patrick Lefevere after media storm

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl boss Patrick Lefevere has shut down rumours linking world champion Remco Evenepoel to Ineos Grenadiers as “too stupid for words.” The cycling transfer rumour mill was sent spiralling on Wednesday when Lefevere said that Dave Brailsford had sent him a text, saying to let Ineos know if they wanted to sell Evenepoel. Ad This came on the back of reports saying that Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe is desperate to win the Tour de France and sees Evenepoel as the key to recapturing the Grand Tour.

Mathieu van der Poel says he ‘should have acted differently’ after hotel confrontation ahead of Road World Championships

Mathieu van der Poel has spoken after being fined for confronting two teenage girls the night before the men’s road race at the World Championships in Wollongong. Van der Poel was fined AU$1500 for the incident after two teenagers were said to have been repeatedly knocking on his door, which prevented him from sleeping. Ad The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was set to appear in court on Tuesday but was allowed to fly home after his passport was returned to him following an initial confiscation.