'On the limit but not impossible' - Mathieu van der Poel sees a path to second world title in Montréal

Mathieu van der Poel is optimistic about his chances of winning a second road world title in Montréal, believing that a hard, attritional race could help him bridge the gap to the pure climbers. The Dutch cyclist pre-visited the World Championships circuit ahead of Sunday's event and found it largely in line with his expectations. While the climbing is substantial, he cautions that it may be on the limit but not impossible for him to secure a victory.

Van der Poel compares the Montréal circuit to Glasgow, where he soloed to gold in 2023, noting that the climb here is harder than in Glasgow. However, he emphasizes that the longer, longer 500-meter stretch before the finish will make it a difficult climb. Van der Poel's advantage lies in his ability to maintain high power output after hours of hard racing, which could help him close the gap with the pure climbers.

The absence of Tadej Pogačar is expected to alter the dynamics of the race, potentially allowing a wider range of riders to challenge for the rainbow jersey. Van der Poel believes that Pogačar's absence could encourage more aggressive racing, as contenders who might have previously targeted minor medals see a path to the world championship title.

Without race radios at the World Championships, Van der Poel anticipates increased unpredictability, which suits his instinctive racing style. His main competitors are expected to be Remco Evenepoel, Paul Seixas, and other riders from France and the United States, all possessing the combination of climbing ability and endurance needed for an attritional race.