The cycling world is in shock after the death of junior Muriel Furrer. The elite men's and women's road races will be the real highlights of the Road World Championships in Zurich this weekend. The most important questions and answers at a glance.
Where will the races take place?
The men's road race covers a distance of 273.2 km, the longest World Championship distance for over 35 years. The start will be in Winterthur, before heading onto the circuit on the Gold Coast after just under 100 km, where seven 27 km laps will be completed. The finish line is crossed at Sechseläutenplatz. The women starting in Uster will complete the circuit four times.
What route profile awaits the pros?
Ambitious amateur riders who climb the Oberalp, Lukmanier, Nufenen and Furka passes in one day will only have slightly more meters of altitude in their legs than the elite men's riders on Sunday. The profile is tough even for professionals: 273 km, brutal climbs on the Zürichbergstrasse with gradients of up to 17 percent, almost 4,500 meters in altitude, hardly any passages to recover.
Who is the favorite?
Tadej Pogacar wants the rainbow jersey. And if the world number 1 sets himself this goal and prepares conscientiously, then he is the favorite. In addition to form, there are two reasons in favor of the Slovenian. The 26-year-old is just as strong in one-day races as he is in tours, and the course in Zurich does not allow for a random winner.
Who will be the defending champion?
Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel is the current world champion until Sunday. The 29-year-old Dutchman is almost as outstanding a rider as Pogacar. He won Paris-Roubaix in 2023 and 2024 and has already won three of the five monuments. Although he went to an altitude training camp and slimmed down a bit due to the many meters of altitude, he said of his possible successful title defense: "The chance is small." Lotte Kopecky from Belgium, on the other hand, has an excellent chance of triumphing in the women's race, as she did in 2023.
Will Evenepoel make it to the Grand Slam?
Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Van der Poel are in the top three places with bookmakers' odds of 1.60, 5.50 and 8.75. Evenepoel recently won the time trial and the road race at the Games in Paris and the World Championship time trial in Zurich. Provided he still has enough strength, the prospect of the Grand Slam will give him additional motivation. Because no one has ever achieved this coup.
What about the Swiss men...
Marc Hirschi is in brilliant form. After winning five races in a row last season, he was still involved in the Tour of Luxembourg last weekend together with world champion Van der Poel. The Bernese rider has already finished third on the World Championship podium once in 2020. The 26-year-old is expected to score another coup. The bookmakers have him in fourth place. In view of the exertions, Stefan Küng and Mauro Schmid also withdrew from the mixed relay last Wednesday. The man from Thurgau and the man from Zurich want to keep up as long as possible in what is expected to be an elimination race.
... and women?
Noemi Rüegg is among the extended circle of medal contenders on Saturday. The Zurich native attracted attention with her 7th place at the Olympic Games. The 23-year-old sees herself as an all-rounder who wants to focus on the classic races in the future. This application fits the World Championship course. Together with Geneva's Elise Chabbey, who has been plagued by bad luck recently, she wants to take on a co-leading role in the Swiss team.
Who is missing?
Wout van Aert and Marlen Reusser are the only two notable absentees. The Belgian suffered a knee injury in a crash at the Vuelta, while the Swiss rider is suffering from post-Covid syndrome.
