Cycling: The highlight of this year's Road World Championships is on the program on Sunday. The new world champion is crowned and the German national team is one of the favourites. After Heinz Müller in 1952 and Rudi Altig in 1966, there could be a German world champion for the third time in 50 years. In the heat of Doha we have three hot irons in the fire. But be careful, because the competition knows that too.
The Germans will have to work a lot
At first glance, being the favorite means something good. You have great chances of winning and have legitimate hopes of winning a medal at the Road World Championships. But this status also harbors dangers, because the competitors turn their eyes to the favorites and then like to put their feet up in cycling - in the truest sense of the word. This problem could come to the German national team on Sunday, because with André Greipel, Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb the BDR sends what is probably the strongest team at the top to the start. Two-time gold medalist Tony Martin, Nils Politt and Jasha Sütterlin complete the German squad. With this force it should be possible to hold the field together. The flat course leads over 257,3 kilometers from the competitive sports facility Aspire Zone to the artificial island The Pearl. There will be some drivers who want to make the task as difficult as possible for the Germans. That's why the BDR needs support from other national teams.
Cavendish, Sagan & Co. are lurking.
The BDR will certainly be supported by the British. After all, with Mark Cavendish they have the best sprinter of this year's Tour de France in their own ranks. He can even count on nine helpers. Defending champion Peter Sagan is also one of the favourites. However, the Slovak only has two colleagues at his side in his brother Juraj and Michal Kolar. They will probably not do the tracking work. However, the Colombians for Fernando Gaviria and the Norwegians for Alexander Kristoff can help with the pace work. The French around Arnaud Demare and Nacer Bouhanni also reckon they have a chance of winning medals with their large team. Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands), Caleb Ewan (Australia), Magnus Cort Nielsen (Denmark) and the two Belgians Tom Boonen and Greg Van Avermaet remain only the outsider roles. While the Italians with Elia Viviani and Giacomo Nizzolo should also prefer a mass sprint, the Spaniards can only seek salvation on the offensive. Despite the nine-strong squad, the prospect of a medal is rather slim.
An alliance must be made
Even if there is no clear favorite for gold, eyes will still be on the Germans. With three or a maximum of five helpers, it will not be possible to control the entire 257 kilometers alone. So there will have to be alliances. If the British, the Norwegians, the Colombians, the Dutch and the Australians were to join forces, the breakaways will probably not stand a chance. If the favorite teams look at each other, then there can be a big surprise in Doha. If the German team gets the necessary support, then without a doubt you have the best sprint train in the world. With the starters Tony Martin and Marcel Kittel, our captain André Greipel could then end up on the top of the podium. If necessary, the two noble helpers could certainly step in. Tony Martin definitely wouldn't mind his third gold medal this year and Marcel Kittel already has one...
