Cycling: Julian Alaphilippe won the Road World Championships in Imola. The Frenchman was able to break away from the group of favorites on the last climb and reach the finish line as a soloist. Silver went to Wout van Aert from Belgium ahead of Marc Hirschi from Switzerland. Germany's Maximilian Schachmann was ninth, Simon Geschke 17th.
7 riders in the breakaway
Despite the corona pandemic and the cancellation of the World Cup in Aigle-Martigny, the rainbow jersey was awarded in the road race today. As the venue, the UCI presented us with a 258,0 kilometer long course with around 5.000 meters in altitude in and around Imola. Even if it took a long time, a classic breakaway group finally formed on the circuit, which had to be ridden nine times. Jonah Koch (Germany), Marco Friedrich (Austria), Torstein Traeen (Norway), Daniel Fominykh (Kazakhstan), Yukiya Arashiro (Japan), Eduard Michael Grosu (Romania) and Ulises Castillo Soto (Mexico) were awarded a seven minute lead. In the peloton, the Swiss and the Danes in particular controlled the pace. While in the Mazzolano climb (2,8 km á 5,9%) and in the Cima Gallisterna (2,7 km á 6,4%) the leading group flew more and more apart from lap to lap, the main field also got smaller and smaller.
Tadej Pogacar provokes the Belgians
With 70,0 kilometers to go, the French pushed the pace in the peloton enormously and thus caught up the last escapees. To date, the Belgians have held back. Because during a Julian Alaphilippe (France), a Marc Hirschi (Switzerland) and a Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) wanted to make the race as difficult as possible preferred wout van aert (Belgium), as a strong sprinter, had a somewhat calmer course of the race. And that's exactly what you didn't want to treat the top favorite to. With 42,0 kilometers to go, the Slovenians got serious. tour winner Tadej pogacar launched his attack on the climb. Nobody could or wanted to go. But now the Belgians were challenged not to let the gap to the 22-year-old get too big. Tiesj Benoot increased for his captain wout van aert the tempo. As a result, some helpers could no longer follow. A perfect situation for the strong punchers and above all, of course, for Cousin Roglic.
Alaphilippe can pull away
The Belgians allowed themselves more than 30 seconds Tadej pogacar not. When the Mazzolano climb was tackled for the last time, went Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) went on the offensive and caught up with the leaders. Shortly thereafter, however, the strong duo was caught by the favorites group. Attacks by, among others, followed Damian Caruso (Italy), Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) and Rigoberto Urán (Colombia). But top favourite wout van aert remained vigilant and went along himself so that the groups were reunited. The preliminary decision was made up the Cima Gallisterna. Marc Hirschi (Switzerland) attacked and then kept the pace constant. But he couldn't break free. Stuck to his rear wheel Julian Alaphilippe (France), Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark), Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), Primois Roglic (Slovenia) and wout van aert (Belgium). After the Pole tried an attack, he sat Julian Alaphilippe everything on one card.
The world champion jersey goes to France
The gap opened up. Julian Alaphilippe pulled out a lead of almost 20 seconds. The Frenchman couldn't be caught on the descent. But then it was off to the motorsport race track in Imola. The wind was blowing and the pursuers had visual contact. But they didn't agree. Nobody wanted for top sprinters wout van aert do the work and then get sprinted by him. This held Julian Alaphilippe his lead to the finish line and can be celebrated as the new world champion. Silver came on as expected wout van aert from Belgium before the Swiss Marc Hirsch.
💥🌈 Mundial de fondo en carretera
💨 ¡Julian Alaphilippe se proclama campeon del mundo con un ataque bestial a 12 kms de meta!
🌈 Alaphilippe
🥈 Van Aert
🥉 Hirschi🇨🇭🇪🇸 Valverde 8º#Imola2020 ???? @sporza
— COPEdaleando (@Copedaleando) September 27, 2020