Who will be on top of the World? (Men)

 Who will be on top of the World? 

After the end of La Vuelta, the Worlds are approaching rapidly. We're going Down Under this time and that has certainly an impact on the selections. Due to all kind of reasons and circumstances, some of the big favourites won't make it to Australia this year. But the rainbowjersey remains the most prestigious jersey in the worlds and many souls are dreaming of spending the coming the 11 months in it. Who are the favourites and wich nations have the strongest squad to back their leaders? An overview of every nation's chances or the mens' race.

Australia

The home nation will definitly be motivated to go for succes on home soil. The Worlds go down under onnly every 10-15 years so this is an opportunity that nobody wants to miss. The non-selection of Caleb Ewan caused mixed feelings but with Michael Matthews they have a good alternative for a small group sprint. The Aussies are problably hoping on a closed race. They won't have to fear the pure sprinters this year so Matthews can go confident to the line, no matter the composition of the group. For a moree selective race scenario, they still have Jai Hindley and Ben O'Connor but they are rarely competing for the victories in one day races.

 

Belgium

The main issue for Belgium already starts before the race : uniting the team behind a common strategy. Belgium has a long decades history of tensions within the national team because many times, riders had often their own ambitions for the World title. Last year confirmed this reputation and it remains to be seen if Evenepoel & Van Aert can work well together in the deep final. On their last 2 World Titles in 2005 & 2012, the nation showed they can ride as an united block for the common good. Can the same approach lead to the same outcome and deliver them their 27th World Title?

Colombia

Colombia brought many good climbers in the past decades but it never brought them any medals at the Worlds. This year, the eyes will likely look into the direction of Sergio Higuita to have a small chance on success. With a 10th place in Strade Bianche & 5th spot in Liège-Bastogne-Liège he has a good track record on hilly one day races but if it will be enough to take a medal or more this time, remains questionable.

Denmark

Denmark had an excellent Summer with many successes in the Tour de France & La Vuelta but the Worlds parcours doesn't offer them many opportunities to achieve similar success. Mads Pedersen & Jonas Vingegaard don't even make the trip to Australia. They have an experienced classic specialist but so far it seems that his best days are behind him. Can he grab a medal for the Danes?

France 

With the defending Worldchampion on a parcours that suits him better then before, you would expect that France will be the country to beat on Sunday but the recent crash during La Vuelta puts big questions marks behind the form of Julian Alaphilippe. Nevertheless, France seems to be a force to fear. Nobody enters the final confident with riders like Senechal or  Laporte arround. France has a team to control the race and has many tactical options for the final. Will the French extend their reign with another year?

Germany

Well what to say about the German selection? It seems like they will already be happy to still have some riders left in the final lap. No Schachmann, Buchmann or Kämna who often do well on these kind of parcours and not even Ackermann who could try to hold on as long as possible. This will probably be a very anonymous race for the Germans.

United Kingdom

The UK relies on a team of outsiders this year. They have many riders who can get into the final round but only few who can make it to the podium steps. Don't be suprised to see a full British squad entering the final lap but don't be suprised if none of them can bring a medal home either. Ethan Hayter has probably the highest chances on success in this squad.

Italy

Alberto Bettiol is the outspoken leader of Italy this year. An excellent rider who can handle many parcours but so unpredictable. In his best form, he has a good chance to win a rainbowjersey for the Azurri but the chances are equally big that he will just have a very anonymosu race. Bagioli & Ballerini are fast alternatives in case of a sprint but I don't see them finishing on the podium among the best in the World. Not the best squad that Italy ever brought to the Worlds.

Netherlands

The Dutch have Mathieu van der Poel & Dylan van Baarle as their clear leaders. Both are experienced succesfull one day racers who find a parcours that suits them well. Mollema & Poels might bring them support in the final & Van der Hoorn could bring them a calm start by going into the early breakaway but they proved to be able to manage the final themselves without much support needed. The race situation & form of the day will probably determine their chances on success.

Norway

Alexander Krisoff will lead the Norwegians in Australia. The Scaninavian country brought the first and only worldchampion on Australian soil in the name of Thor Hushovd but it remains to be seen if Alexander Kristoff can bring the same success. In a good day, he can survive the hills and sprint for the World title, but just like in the previous case the race scenario will also play a big role in it as Norway doesn't seem to have a squad that can control the final. 

United States

The Youth is the future. The Americans have currently their most talented generation since many years. Many of them could do well in the race but I guess it's too early for them yet to go for a big result in a race of more then 250 km. Neilson Powless could perhaps confirm his suprising result of last year and Magnus Sheffield could hold on very long in the favourites groups but I expect the first American medals only in the upcoming years. 

Slovakia

Slovakia has with Peter Sagan one of the current record holders in their squad. He'll problably make it as only only rider from the squad to the final but it's questionable if his form will be sufficiant to sprint for the World title again. 

Eritrea

The biggest opportunity for the first African World title ever. Biniam Girmay is one of the big favourites on this parcours. He's fast and can survive a hill. He only doesn't really have a team to keep the bunch together so he will depend on the strategies of other nations. The Eritrean squad is quite young so they will problably be able to increase their chances in the coming yearss when they will have a stronger team to have an impact on the race. But this year can a good test to see how far they can come.

Slovenia

One of the smallest nations in Europe but a powerhouse in cycling. Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Matej Mohoric won races on many terrains. Unfortunatly only 1 of them will be present at the Worlds what reduces the tactical options for the country by a lot. Pogacar is a rider who can handle it to take the iniative himself, but he will problably need some other big riders to join him in the final because even he is not invincible on this hilly parcours.

Other Countries

For the other countries, I expect a quite anonymous race. Problably some of them will have a rider or two left in the final laps but I don't expect them to play a big role in the race itself. A top 10 or even top 20 result will already be a success for many of these nations. They will problably look forward to higher chances in the coming years.