Evenepoel, Van Aert, van der Poel, Seixas, Del Toro... How do the world championships' biggest names compare with 5 days to go?
CyclingTuesday, 22 September 2026 at 06:00
The World Championships have begun, and will only end next Sunday with the men's road race. On the CyclingUpToDate Podcast, Rúben Silva and Gavin Quinn have ran through all of the big names, their chances and how they may win the rainbow jersey.
Previously, the duo had already discussed Belgium and their tactics. With Remco Evenepoel and Wout Van Aert present, they will be one of the teams with the most responsibility. The reason is obvious:
"The onus very much is on Belgium more than previous years I guess with Tadej Pogacar not here," Gavin Quinn argued. The controversy around Tim Wellens' absence has further expanded the amount of eyes on the Belgians.
"Wout van Aert is also the elephant *within* the elephant of the room and it's how do they use van Aert; what kind of van Aert is coming.," Quinn questions. It is something that can make a worlds' difference in their overall tactics.
"Is it a Van Aert coming here to help Evenepoel or is it a Van Aert who has ambitions to win? And I think a Van Aert that has ambitions to win is better than him just there only for Remco Evenepoel".
Remco Evenepoel has won the time trial, but there hasn't been an overall change of opinion due to it.
"Remco hasn't done anything to suggest that he's gone downhill, he's dominated the time trial, became four-time world world time trial champion. But the more I think about it and the dynamics like having Wout van Aert there puts a lot of pressure on Belgium and it's more a question of how they play it".
Paul Seixas
However Paul Seixas' third place did slightly influence Silva's opinion on the Frenchman, positively. "It just feels like at the GP Montreal he had the legs. This Sunday he had the legs. He's going to be a nightmare to drop," he argued.
"And I don't know if someone can actually directly do it regardless if it's on the climb or in the secondary part of the circuit". But the question for Seixas might not be whether he can hold on to his rivals' wheels, but rather if he can reach the finish isolated.
"I do agree that he'll be hard to drop but he needs separation to win the World Championships," Quinn believes. "That's the one definitive thing I don't see him winning a sprint against any of the key contenders after 273 kilometers and we saw that with Isaac del Toro".
Italy the ultimate wildcard?
One of the teams with the most depth will be the Italians. Whilst not having a big sounding name that would ordinarily win the worlds in a head-to-head against the bigger names, that created the looming threat that all riders might attack from the distance.
Alberto Bettiol, Mattia Cattaneo, Davide Piganzoli, Giulio Ciccone, Giulio Pellizzari, Lorenzo Finn, Christian Scaroni and Matteo Trentin form one of the best collectives in the entire race. And they may create chaos when others do not.
"I see so many paths to victory. We don't know what we're going to see from Lorenzo Finn and he should be encouraged to try stuff as early as possible and really just put himself in the front of the race," Quinn pushed.
"But like, there's so much experience there that can do well like Giulio Ciccone who was second place in Montreal; [Christian] Scaroni is a near expert of top five, top tens of these international world and European championships..."
Giulio Pellizzari and Davide Piganzoli have recently taken wins, despite having taken part in races that were significantly more explosive. Both did not participate in the Vuelta and had a more specialized approach, making them under-the-radar threats for the rainbow jersey.
"Pellizzari back in form and my kind of dark horse at least for a top ten [...] From watching Luxembourg, in particular particularly that queen stage, stage three of Luxembourg where he basically went off on his own on a world championships training ride, in a way by bridging two and a half minutes across to a breakaway and pretty much almost winning".
Davide Piganzoli's Tour de Luxembourg win makes him one of Italy's danger weapons
Spain
The Spaniards will come motivated, with a block featuring several Movistar riders that have recently taken part in La Vuelta where they backed Enric Mas to victory. Mas himself, a Top10 at the worlds two years ago, might be a dark hore.
"I don't know what Enric Mas is going to show up. Is it going to be an Enric Mas like we've seen at the Vuelta like full of confidence climbing basically the best he has in his career and the best among the best in the world?"
Alongside him will be Juan Ayuso, who crashed at the GP de Québec, but might have effectively hidden some proper form. "Juan Ayuso seemed like he was training in Montreal, kind of still sharpening a little bit by attacking so early to kind of simulate a world championships environment".
"If you will and he did look strong for a good period so, I think we're definitely going to see a better Juan Ayuso than we saw in Montreal two weeks. It will be two weeks by the time the race starts, and so if he keeps his powder dry, he could also be one of these riders who might like Quinn Simmons actually might be let go".
Isaac del Toro
Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates - XRG has been named by both men as the potential winner of the race. His win at the GP de Montréal was convincing, but his versatility might be his biggest power on a course that favours those who can climb, sprint and also take part in repeated explosive efforts.
"Isaac Del Toro is one of the probably smarter riders within the within the bunch of favorites, and always tend has this knack for himself in a winning position," Quinn stated.
"He hasn't got the burden of a team, or I guess he hasn't got the safety blanket of a team around them which some riders have. And sometimes that kind of puts you asleep at the wheel. Isaac Del Toro will be alert from the entrance of the circuit and will try and be in the right place at the right time all the time".
Last year in Kigali, Del Toro was the only one able to go with Tadej Pogacar after the Mur de Kigali. His issue was then the maintenance of such an extreme pace, but that won't be required due to the Slovenian's absence.
Del Toro's formula in Montréal just over a week ago might be a successful one, as long as he can execute it in the same way.
"His style to not initially follow Paul Seixas' attack and try and bridge across is exactly how he wins in a scenario where Paul Seixas attacks or Remco Evenepoel attacks. Because he could well have the sprint against two of those guys to the line if it comes that way".
Outsiders
Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and the British team; as well as the chances of the United States conquering the gold medal have been discussed. The duo have gone in depth over the extensive list of contenders, which spreads amongst climbers and classics specialists alike.
Quinn on his end mentioned the potential leader of the German national team, who's been flying under the radar since the Tour de France. "Florian Lipowitz. Nobody will be thinking of him at least among the top contenders, but he if he goes on the right move or he takes a an opportunist attack with two or three laps to go he has a German team to keep him supported until then. I think he's a serious threat that people will be forgetting about".
A late attacker at the GP de Montréal, bronze medal last year and a rider who thrives in the long hilly races, Ben Healy has also gathered a lot of attention. "Ben Healy has to go at the right time he went a little bit too early in Montreal, but he is one of the few riders that gets better the longer the kilometers go you know".
The Irishman has struggled with form this year, but looked to be back on track in Canada. "We've seen that in world championships last year bronze medal for example, so if Ben Healy goes with one of these names we've mentioned before like Mathieu van der Poel everything like that's there's a good chance that that move can stick".
Tobias Johannessen, winner of the final stage of the Vuelta a España, was the third big name mentioned by Quinn. "One of the top 10 ranked riders in the world I believe, or at least in the top 15. Incredibly consistent has a strong a pretty strong but smaller team - I think it's only a six six rider team".
"Norway but they have you know Tobias Foss, [Andreas] Leknessund... I think he's a real underrated one and if I had a core of 10 to 15 riders who are going to be in a favorites group if things are settled in the final two laps, I think he's going to be there".
Tobias Johannessen a strong outsider in Gavin Quinn's opinion
Silva in the meantime put forward a different set of contenders. "I think Switzerland have a very very good team, I mean the entire team is experienced and strong. They have Marc Hirschi who I don't even consider like a big contender contender really now, but at his very best level we know what he can do".
"But both Mauro Schmid and Jan Christen, they're pure punchers. This is a race where the punchers can do well and both are riders that can handle those longer climbs well".
Schmid towards the start of the year was one of the best in the world, and has remained near the top of the UCI rankings due to his large amount of results in the classics and stage-races that features similar profiles.
The puncheurs were a big focus, with Jhonatan Narváez perhaps being the ultimate under-the-radar wildcard. "Narvaez is definitely worth mentioning yeah".
"He raced in Quebec and Montréal, his results weren't the sharpest - he was 23rd and 15th - so he did compete again already with his rivals but he didn't succeed in the way that perhaps I'm making him out to be".
"But I remember very vividly what he did at the Giro d'Italia, and I remember very vividly above all what he's done in the past at the Tour de France, Milano-Sanremo, working for Pogacar".
Narváez won three stages at this year's Giro d'Italia and quickly went back-to-back with another at the Tour de Suisse. His explosivity has made him a crucial asset for Tadej Pogacar's attacks, even when Jonas Vingegaard has been involved.
"He is a pure puncher but his evolution since joining UAE in the actual climbing field which would make him more resistant in the circuit. It could make him an absolute threat".
Can three-time stage winner at the Giro Jhonatan Narváez surprise?
'Out of nowhere' surprises
The World Championships also provide an opportunity for many riders to get a lot of big TV time, and have extra motivation to find themselves a new contract for 2027. Regarding men who might join the breakaway and go on to last, the two brought out a couple of names.
"Henrique Avancini," Rúben Silva brought up. Of course there's a bit of bias because he's a Portuguese-speaking rider. He's the only rider for the Brazilian national team but he's a former mountain bike world champion and I would really be happy to see him towards the front".
"And if he was in the breakaway of the day I probably would cheer him on more than anyone else, because yeah who doesn't love an outsider? Who doesn't love a 'where the hell did this guy show up from and how far can he go because no one really knows'."
Gavin Quinn on his end put his chips on a rider that has had somewhat of a comeback this summer. "George Bennett, he could try it. He was very active at the Tour de France and breakaways, and he's shown probably better form this year than he has in recent years - and New Zealand only have a small team".
A win outside of Evenepoel, Seixas and Del Toro
For Rúben Silva, if one of the 'big three' do not win, the winner might be Tom Pidcock. For Gavin Quinn: Ben Healy. This upcoming Sunday, dozens of the best climbers and classics specialists in the world will go head to head for what is perhaps the most open road race since 2022.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- lolmij22-09-2026
- Tadej is not eligible for U23, pal.Colnago-fan22-09-2026
- Class bike ridervanja22-09-2026
- My comment was supposed to be In the piece on the U23 time trial! Some kind of screw up for it to be here!AndrewK22-09-2026
- This victory should have an asterisk attached to it since Tadej Pogacar wasn’t racing in it, due to a combination of injury and illegibility.AndrewK22-09-2026
- Good'un
Rafionain-Glas22-09-2026 - MVDP doing MVDP things.acem8221-09-2026
- This victory should have an asterisk attached to it since Tadej Pogacar wasn’t racing in it, due to a combination of injury and illegibility.AndrewK21-09-2026
- Some say the peloton let him win. While it is true that they weren't too bothered, it was still monumental. If't were easy, many'd have done't.Rafionain-Glas21-09-2026
- it isn't about "not getting along". I would say the same about people in the conflict in the Middle East. you don't deserve a place at the table if you look at someone and judge them on their gender, race, religion, etc. and sorry if my words were a bit off-putting. I don't condone violence or actual erasure of anyone. I just mean removal from a serious discussion.mij21-09-2026
Loading
Write a comment