On a sad day at the World Championships, Niklas Behrens of 🇩🇪 outsprints Martin Svrček of 🇸🇰 to take the 2024 Men's U23 World title. Alec Segaert takes the bronze for 🇧🇪 almost 30s behind #Zurich2024
Germany's Niklas Behrens takes surprise victory in men's U23 World Championships road race! Svrcek and Segaert complete podium
CyclingFriday, 27 September 2024 at 16:52
Germany's Niklas Behrens is the new men's under 23 road race world champion after emerging on top from a high quality field on Friday afternoon in Zurich. Completing the final podium, Slovakia's Martin Svrcek and Belgium's Alec Segaert.
In a frantic and unrelenting start to the race, rider after rider attempted to go on the attack early on. Although no real breakaway formed, a number of riders found themselves in difficulty and out the back of the peloton as a result of the consistently high pace. Among those out of the running, USA's INEOS Grenadiers prodigy, 'AJ' Andrew August.
At 50km to go, it was the Swiss team setting a fierce pace on the front, reeling back any attacks that went away. Then, on the penultimate ascent of the Witikon, UAE Team Emirates prodigy Jan Christen launched a brutal attack, riding clear solo. Leading the chase behind, was Italy's Giulio Pellizzari. Having been stuck somewhat in no man's land though, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe bound prospect dropped back to the main chase group at 30km to go, around 50 seconds behind the lone leader.
On the final climb of the day, Belgium's Jarno Wider launched a big counter from the chase bringing compatriot Alec Segaert, Slovakia's Martin Svrcek, Mexico's Isaac del Toro and GB's Joseph Blackmore alongside him, immediately taking back 10-15 seconds on Christen. At 20km to go though, the Swiss leader still had an advantage of around 40 seconds from the chase.
At just over 10km left, the catch of Christen was finally made as Svrcek and Germany's Niklas Behrens bridged across. After the latter immediately attacked again though, Christen couldn't soon dropped away. As those 2 powered away, victory and the Rainbow Jersey quickly became a two-horse race.
In a sprint for the line, Behrens opened things up and Svrcek was left helpless, giving the German the world title. Notably, Alec Segaert secured the third spot on the podium.
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- That’s the most stupid thing I’ve read for a long time, did you not go to school and learn even the most basic physics? Aero depends on one thing only, drag, drag depends speed and the relationship is squared and apart from maybe at zero or the speed of sound or due to side winds that relationship is valid at all speeds, it dies not “suddenly” start at a magic number. Very simply, the faster you go the more the effect becomes important. If you think 25km/h is needed to have noticeable effects you’re delusional, athletic WR are cancelled as soon as winds top 2m/s that’s 7.2km/h, why because the assistance is already too important at that speed and the times prove it. You don’t even consider wind which can significantly increase the effective speed for aerodynamics and you underestimate speed of climbs, 6% is ridden more at 30 than 25km/h, a speed at which early generation high rims were considered to have more advantages than disadvantages. And finally, as in normal races you can’t just switch bikes according to terrain, it’s pretty pointless to discuss climbs as a separate situation, the aero will have justified itself plenty during the rest of the ride.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- If you look at how much TP progressed in that 1 1/2 years you can no longer say that’s nothing. If Remco improves as much he’s a challenger!Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Froome wishing to ride the Vuelta...he won't even be selected for the team!frieders320-12-2024
- Keep telling yourself that Remco but you not only have Tadeg to beat but Jonas!frieders320-12-2024
- Seems farfetched - I agree. Mas has beaten him once. Giro d'Emillia I think - 2022mobk20-12-2024
- Barring injuries, by the time Pogacar's dominance fads there will be lots of new young talent. Pogacar is about 1 1/2 years older than Remco. That's nothing.Sweep20-12-2024
- I actually don’t find that too impressive. In my later forties I did similar figures for a 3.5% gradient as a total nobody with no wind assistance. Am sure there’s margin for improvement there, especially looking at all the names on that list.Mistermaumau20-12-2024
- Jonas', was 6 years agospock12320-12-2024
- The race where he overnight suddenly turned nuclear after being packfodder at best for several years. His Sky days after that Vuelta and Pogačar’s last season shall remain the darkest post Lance stuff cycling has witnessed. Good riddance Froome.
UltimateOpportunist20-12-2024 - Finishing the Vuelta seems to be a reasonably attainable goal. Getting on the team to do that will be the more difficult challenge.
santiagobenites20-12-2024