World Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, September 21

[Cycling111]

There's a video of the complete ITT route on this website. It was filmed in 55 minutes.

V Kigaliju boljše ceste kot pri nas, a SP velik logistični zalogaj

Prvo svetovno prvenstvo v cestnem kolesarstvu v Afriki je sprožilo številna vprašanja in dvome ter prineslo praktične izzive. "UCI je to želel in za vse reprezentance je enako," poudarja slovenska zveza, ki ji je na pomoč priskočila Slovenka iz Ruande.

www.rtvslo.si

 

[Berniece]

V Kigaliju boljše ceste kot pri nas, a SP velik logistični zalogaj

Prvo svetovno prvenstvo v cestnem kolesarstvu v Afriki je sprožilo številna vprašanja in dvome ter prineslo praktične izzive. "UCI je to želel in za vse reprezentance je enako," poudarja slovenska zveza, ki ji je na pomoč priskočila Slovenka iz Ruande.

www.rtvslo.si

There is a video posted and TT actually doesn't look that hard in terms of climbing.

The cobbled climb looked quite hard to me

 

[CyclistAbi]

The cobbled climb looked quite hard to me

I mean it's still hard(er) than a flat TT in terms of climbing but i feel Tokyo route was harder in that regard.

 

[Berniece]

I mean it's still hard(er) than a flat TT in terms of climbing but i feel Tokyo route was harder in that regard.

Could be.

It's a shame we have a time check before Cote de Peage instead of on top. Now it's nicely divided in 4 sections almost equally as long, but a time check on top of cote de peage would've been more interesting information.

 

[Cycling111]

That cobbled section is very short in the time trial. I still see a route very favorable to Remco. The roads are very wide, and the other climbs don't seem difficult. They're climbs to ride aerodynamic on the bike.

The cobbled section will be tough on the route because they ride it repeatedly.
Even so, it's not even half as tough as the Mur Kigali. If the repeated section had been Mur Kigali, they would have finished less riders than on Hinault's Sallanches

 

[Berniece]

That cobbled section is very short in the time trial. I still see a route very favorable to Remco. The roads are very wide, and the other climbs don't seem difficult. They're climbs to ride aerodynamic on the bike.

The only ITT road that wouldn't be more favourable to Evenepoel would be a mountain ITT. Which doesn't have much to do with time trialing, that's all about W/kg.

 

[Berniece]

Where have we heard that before this year though, every big race? Anyway excellent, no excuses. He's about to get absolutely crushed in his own niche discipline.

That goes two ways of course.

 

[AmRacer]

That goes two ways of course.

Either Tadej wins or Pogi does.

 

[Berniece]

I also keep reading different values when it comes to the amount of meters in altitude they have to overcome. Officially they say 680 meters, but PCS/LFR is saying 758 meters.

 

[James M]

That goes two ways of course.

What I mean is, we heard the same from Remco before the Dauphine and the Tour, not the same tune afterwards. Legitimate reasons or not, he was very bullish before he got a serious reality check then too.

Of course, no excuses either way, results speak for themselves. Part of me wants Remco to win even, good for Poggo to have some targets left and not crush everyone left and right but thats not what I think will happen.

 

[Berniece]

What I mean is, we heard the same from Remco before the Dauphine and the Tour, not the same tune afterwards. Legitimate reasons or not, he was very bullish before he got a serious reality check then too.

Of course, no excuses either way, results speak for themselves. Part of me wants Remco to win even, good for Poggo to have some targets left and not crush everyone left and right but thats not what I think will happen.

Note that he was specifically asked about the ITT of course. I can't imagine him getting crushed/destroyed during the ITT.

 

[Cycling111]

I wouldn't mind if Pogacar won the time trial and not Lombardia. He probably won't do any more time trials at world championships.
I don't consider it a priority objective for him but it is something he doesn't have.

Although I don't think it will happen, the route doesn't look that difficult. Except for the cobbles section, the rest is for aerodynamic riding.

The descents don't seem difficult either, which is where I thought I'd gain time on Remco. In the 2024 Tour de France time trial, the Eze descent is steep and technical. It's nothing like it.

 

[Berniece]

I wouldn't mind if Pogacar won the time trial and not Lombardia. He probably won't do any more time trials at world championships.
I don't consider it a priority objective for him but it is something he doesn't have.

Merckx also doesn't have one, but that's because it didn't exist back then.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I wouldn't mind if Pogacar won the time trial and not Lombardia. He probably won't do any more time trials at world championships.
I don't consider it a priority objective for him but it is something he doesn't have.

Although I don't think it will happen, the route doesn't look that difficult. Except for the cobbles section, the rest is for aerodynamic riding.

The descents don't seem difficult either, which is where I thought I'd gain time on Remco. In the 2024 Tour de France time trial, the Eze descent is steep and technical. It's nothing like it.

GdL is way more important than a WCTT. It's not even a debate.

 

[James M]

I wouldn't mind if Pogacar won the time trial and not Lombardia. He probably won't do any more time trials at world championships.
I don't consider it a priority objective for him but it is something he doesn't have.

I respectfully disagree to some extent yes, the RR WC is the main priority indeed.

But imo Pogacar has gone out of his way to publicly state that he wants this, and hes hinted at it subtly for a long time. For me, thats as strong a confirmation as you can get: he wants this, no excuses. If he doesn’t win it, there are no excuses to me, he wants it badly.

When I said long ago that I thought he would do the TT, and we debated that, I cited that as the sole reason: he seems to be triggered by chasing things he hasnt yet achieved. So I agree with you there.

 

[Cycling111]

GdL is way more important than a WCTT. It's not even a debate.

I say this because he has four and will probably win more. I'm talking about changing one Monument out of many. I wouldn't change it if it were just one for one.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I say this because he has four and will probably win more. I'm talking about changing one Monument out of many. I wouldn't change it if it were just one for one.

I hope for 8 GdL in the end of his career

 

[Cycling111]

I respectfully disagree to some extent yes, the RR WC is the main priority indeed.

But imo Pogacar has gone out of his way to publicly state that he wants this, and hes hinted at it subtly for a long time. For me, thats as strong a confirmation as you can get: he wants this, no excuses. If he doesn’t win it, there are no excuses to me, he wants it badly.

When I said long ago that I thought he would do the TT, and we debated that, I cited that as the sole reason: he seems to be triggered by chasing things he hasnt yet achieved. So I agree with you there.

The priority remains the Road World Championship.

I think the toughness of this time trial is being overrated. Last year's Tour de France ITT was tougher on the climbs, and the descents were more technical.

 

[Berniece]

This is the first time Pogi seriously targets a WC time trial with methodical preparation, etc. I’ll be happy to be surprised, but fact is hes simply in a entirely different league from everyone in the world, so I expect a demolishing even if its a favourable discpline to Remco and I think the world of Remco even in historic perspective in TT.

What is a demolishing in your view? Winning by 30s, 60s, 90s?

 

[Red Rick]

What is a demolishing in your view? Winning by 30s, 60s, 90s?

Depends on who wins. Pogacar wins by 30s, it's obliteration. Evenepoel wins by 30s, it was very close.

 

[hayneplane]

I still see Remco as a clear worthy favourite though it wouldn’t shock me if Pogacar won a parcours like this.

 

[James M]

What is a demolishing in your view? Winning by 30s, 60s, 90s?

Relative indeed.

If Pogacar wins by anything less than 30-25 sec would surprise me alot, happily quote me on this after the race. And as far as demolishing goes that count both ways no worries there.

 

[AlpRaid]

I hope for 8 GdL in the end of his career

Lombardia is to Pog what the French open was to Nadal.

 

[hayneplane]

What is a demolishing in your view? Winning by 30s, 60s, 90s?

30 seconds would be the biggest margin between 1 and 2 this decade so I personally think that would be enough to count.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Depends on who wins. Pogacar wins by 30s, it's obliteration. Evenepoel wins by 30s, it was very close.

You can't resist, can you?