German cycling has been waiting for a world championship title in road racing for 57 years. Rudi Altig had managed the feat in 1966 on the Nürburgring. However, it is unlikely that the long wait will come to an end at the World Cup in Glasgow.
“Of course we’re among the underdogs. But I’m assuming that we have the drivers and the class to make it into the top ten,” says the new national coach André Greipel, who secured the last medal in 2011 with bronze in Copenhagen.
Nils Politt from Cologne will be the captain in the race over 271.1 kilometers, starting in Edinburgh and ending in George Square in Glasgow, and classics specialist John Degenkolb will also play an important role.
Pogacar is considered a favourite
But the favorites are different. Like the two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, who only arrived in Scotland on Friday evening at the last minute. After his second place at the most recent Tour de France, the Slovenian had hesitated for a long time before accepting the start. But the rainbow jersey is a dream for him, said the 24-year-old.
Remco Evenepoel made this dream come true last year, at the age of 22 – like his legendary compatriot Eddy Merckx once did. Can he possibly repeat the coup? The preparations didn’t go well, and one day before the race his father, of all people, sparked speculation about a team change for the Belgian all-rounder. The German cycling team Bora-hansgrohe is even said to be in discussion as a possible new employer.
Whether the vortex is performance-enhancing remains to be seen. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, another top contender for the title, found out over the past year that too much background noise can be harmful. After a dispute with two girls in the hotel, who had knocked on his room door several times, he spent the night before the race at the police station – and finally gave up early on the course.
Other title contenders include Belgian Wout van Aert and Danish ex-world champion Mads Pedersen.
