“It will depend on who attacks first and usually that is... Remco” – Philippe Gilbert tips Evenepoel-Pogacar duel for Rainbow Jersey at Montreal World Championships
Cycling
Philippe Gilbert believes Remco Evenepoel can turn the tables on Tadej Pogacar at the Montreal World Championships, despite the Slovenian’s emphatic victory in their Tour de France battle.
Pogacar secured his fifth yellow jersey with a margin of 6:26 over Evenepoel, repeatedly distancing the Belgian in the mountains and extending a run of dominance that also includes the past two world road titles.
Gilbert nevertheless expects a far more balanced contest in Canada. “The course is easier than in Kigali, with 3,600 metres of climbing. That suits Remco perfectly,” the former world champion told Le Soir.
The official route contains slightly more climbing than Gilbert’s estimate, but remains considerably less demanding than the course used in Rwanda. Its repeated shorter ascents, fast descents and long stretches suited to sustained power offer Evenepoel a different challenge from the high-mountain terrain on which Pogacar controlled the Tour.
Gilbert expects Pogacar-Evenepoel showdown
Pogacar has won the past two World Championships through long-range attacks. He launched more than 100 kilometres from the finish in Zurich in 2024, then again took control from distance in Kigali. Evenepoel was left chasing on both occasions, eventually settling for silver behind the Slovenian in Rwanda.
Gilbert expects the same two riders to dominate the Montreal race, but believes the order of their attacks could prove decisive. “Pogacar and Evenepoel are the big favourites,” he said. “I think one of them will become world champion. It will depend on who attacks first and usually in a race like that, it is… Remco.”
Evenepoel could not match Pogacar across three weeks in France, but still completed his best Tour de France and reinforced the qualities Gilbert believes will be decisive in Montreal. “He has become even stronger,” Gilbert said. “He is impressive. On the descents and on the flat, he was unbeatable.”
The Belgian’s biggest one-day victories have repeatedly come through sustained attacks rather than waiting for a reduced sprint. Montreal’s less mountainous route should allow him to use those strengths without having to survive the kind of prolonged climbing that separated the pair during the Tour.
Pogacar put in one of the greatest rides of all time in Kigali to win the World Championships for a second time
Wout van Aert strengthens Belgian hand
Gilbert also highlighted the presence of Wout van Aert in Belgium’s plans. “On top of that, he will also have Wout van Aert alongside him,” he said.
Van Aert gives Belgium another rider capable of surviving deep into a selective World Championship and prevents rival teams from concentrating solely on Evenepoel.
His speed in a reduced group would also make him dangerous if the expected Pogacar-Evenepoel attack never creates a decisive gap. Belgium can therefore approach the finale with more than one credible winning route, rather than committing every rider to an early pursuit of the defending champion.
Pogacar will arrive in Montreal having beaten Evenepoel at the Tour and at the previous two World Championships. Gilbert believes the Canadian course gives his compatriot a better opportunity to strike first and stop that sequence reaching three.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
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