"Besides Pogacar, we'll have to keep an eye on riders like Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock, and Jay Vine" - Remco Evenepoel

Remco Evenepoel is the man to watch for Tadej Pogacar this Sunday at the Kigali World Championships and with 24 hours to go, tension is high and so are the stakes. The Belgian has talked about how the time-trial may or may not have changed his tactics, the main men to watch and his soon-to-be teammate Lorenzo Finn who has impressed beyond belief with his victory in the under-23 road race.

"The result of the time trial doesn't change anything. We have a plan, and the plan doesn't change," Evenepoel told Sporza. "The time trial gave me a lot of motivation, but that doesn't mean I'll be overconfident. We have to keep our feet on the ground, because Pogacar is the best rider in recent years."

Evenepoel, like Pogacar, has won the rainbow jersey in the past and after his victory this past Sunday the pressure won't be as high. But that does not mean he will not aim for another one, and with his current form - and Pogacar's uncertainty - it is certainly viable to believe we could have a close duel. One thing Evenepoel will not let happen again is Pogacar escaping with a surprise early move, as happened in Zurich.

"Last year he surprised us; we hadn't even thought of a scenario like that. This time we'll talk about it, because 100 kilometers from the finish line is Mount Kigali, one of the key points of the race: we'll have to be very careful". However, despite the absence of an ill Tiesj Benoot, it may be the Slovenians that have to watch out for the Belgians, who may ally with other of the several strong national teams who may want to wreak havoc in the hilly circuit.

"The climb will arrive after four hours of racing: many riders will already be struggling, and that's where the fun begins. I don't expect too much of a wait-and-see attitude: even in youth races, we've seen how the laps fly by quickly. I expect a race of elimination, of attrition."

This could benefit the climbers. Evenepoel opens up his game, and has named the riders he believes can be the most dangerous besides the defending champion: "Besides Pogacar, we'll have to keep an eye on riders like Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock, and Jay Vine".

Evenepoel is also aware that UAE riders may help out Pogacar under the right circumstances. This played an important role in his victory last year in Zurich, where Pavel Sivakov collaborated with the Slovenian despite burning his chances of going for a top result.

"They'll definitely give Pogacar a hand, as they did last year," the Belgian bets on. "It would be important to have as few UAE riders as possible in front of them, but it won't be easy because they're in good shape. I'll have to play my cards and read the race carefully."

However Evenepoel has plenty good news throughout the past few days, including his teammate Ilan van Wilder who did the ride of his life to finish on the time-trial Worlds podium and may be a key asset this Sunday, but also the rise of Lorenzo Finn who will be a teammate of his from 2027 onwards and has become junior and under-23 World Champion in consecutive years.

"Finn impressed me; he's brilliant and intelligent, and has a great future ahead of him: I can't wait to meet him," Evenepoel said of the rider who seems to be delivering similar potential to what Evenepoel had at the same age.

"However, the Under 23 race doesn't provide any indications for the pros, especially now that the World Tour riders are no longer there. But it's certainly a tough course, one that lends itself to solo efforts."