Cycling: The grand finale of the Road World Championships in Yorkshire goes to Mads Pedersen. The Dane surprisingly prevailed in the road race ahead of Italian Matteo Trentin and Swiss Stefan Küng. This made Mads Pedersen the first Danish world champion in a road race. In the pouring rain, the German team got nothing, but presented itself actively and strongly.
Change of route due to heavy rain
Even on the last day of the Road World Championships, the weather was not kind to the pros. Since some sections were even flooded due to the heavy rain overnight, around 50 kilometers of the planned route could not be tackled. The organizers therefore decided without further ado to drive nine instead of seven finish laps in Harrogate. But that didn't make the race any easier. At 10 a.m. German time, the participants set out in Leeds – again in heavy rain, of course – on the 261,8-kilometer route. In the British high moor, visibility was also severely restricted by the dense clouds, so that today's TV viewers hardly got any pictures from the helicopter. When the plane had to refuel for the TV signal, there were no live images for about an hour. The black rain jackets worn by the drivers also made it very difficult to tell the pros apart. Nevertheless, we were able to form an extremely strong group of eleven with a Giro winner Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) and Vuelta winner Primois Roglic (Slovenia) recognize.
A strong leading group with Jonas Koch & Silvan Dillier
The escape group was completed by Jonah Koch (Germany), Sylvan Dillier (Switzerland), Nairo Quintana (Colombia), Jan Polanc (Slovenia), Alex Howes (USA), Maciej Bodnar (Poland), Peter Vacoc (Czech Republic), Hugo Houle (Canada) and Magnus Cort Nielsen (Denmark). Although the breakaways all have great names, the group was caught up again right at the beginning of the circuit. Shortly before came with me Philip Gilbert and Remco Evenepoel two co-favorites from Belgium fell. Despite best efforts, it was not possible to reconnect with the peloton. The pace was much too high after catching up with the former leading group. So the tactics in the Belgian national team promptly changed. well was greg van avermaet the captain. Time Trial World Champion Rohan Dennis (Australia), meanwhile, dropped out of the race, as did among others Richard Carapaz (Ecuador), Primois Roglic (Slovenia), Alejandro Valverde (Spain) and Dan Martin (Ireland).
Stefan Küng goes on the offensive
A new leading group formed around 65 kilometers from the finish. While there were only around 60 riders in the peloton - including almost all German starters - the Swiss were able to Stefan Kung and the American Lawson Craddock drop. When the latter could no longer keep up with his companion, we managed Gianni moscon (Italy), Mads pedersen (Denmark) and Mike Teunissen (Netherlands) the connection. However, the quartet did not agree. Behind them, the French and the Belgians were mainly responsible for the tracking work. The peloton was finally blown up 32 kilometers from the finish line by an attack by Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman reacted to the fact that Mike Teunissen (Netherlands) was no longer able to follow his companions and drove with him Matteo Trentin (Italy) on the back wheel to the leading trio. Previously also has Nils Politt (Germany) tried something similar, but his attack was unsuccessful.
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Mathieu van der Poel is out of breath
When the five leaders were able to extend their lead to just under a minute, the entire cycling world probably expected the world championship title for them Mathieu van der Poel. But with the Dutchman, the plug was simply pulled 13 kilometers from the finish line. Riding on the rear wheel of his companions, he was no longer able to follow, even in the slipstream. The 24-year-old exceptional athlete was then completely passed through. Because the French, the Belgians and later also the Germans could not reduce the gap to the leading quartet, the four leaders should ultimately decide the world championship title among themselves. The Italians were with me Matteo Trentin and Gianni moscon of course in an excellent position. As the top sprinter in the group, Trentin knew that with Moscon's help, all he had to do was make sure the four of them got to the finish line together. Stefan Kung and Mads pedersen again were aware that they should bring about a decision against Matteo Trentin before the final sprint to the finish.
Mads Pedersen is crowned sensations world champion
Lost on the last really tough climb up Hollow Moor Gianni moscon the connection after Stefan Kung increased the pace. Mads Pedersen also had problems, but was able to fight back. So it was clear: The three professionals who are still in front will fight for the medals among themselves. Started as a clear favourite Matteo Trentin to sprint down the home stretch. Stefan Küng immediately lost a few centimeters with this acceleration. Seized this chance Mads Pedersen, to grab the Italian's rear wheel - and sprint past just before the finish line. With this, Mads Pedersen manages what is probably the biggest surprise in many years. The Dane is just 23 years old and has never won a WorldTour race in his career. But now he's allowed to wear the rainbow jersey for a year as world champion. Stefan Küng can look forward to bronze. John Degenkolb was 15th as the best German.