"Pogacar was very strong, but maybe not unbeatable" - Maxim Van Gils sees hope for other riders with view to the World Championships

Arnaud De Lie in Quebec, Maxim Van Gils in Montreal. The leadership in Canada was split between the two youngsters that way. In the end Van Gils had more luck as he finished fourth in Montreal, just outside the podium.

"I just miss out on the podium which is a bit unfortunate, but I’m happy with today’s performance," he said after the race. "It was a very fast race and in the end it was just about what was left in the tank."

Betting on his fast finish, the Lotto Dstny rider hoped to score from a reduced group but a crash hindered his chances for podium: "I hoped the group would stay together to go for the sprint for the podium. In the last corner Magnus Sheffield crashed, so I had to break but in the end I think everyone was à bloque and I just came too short to take the podium. I’m happy with the feeling I had in the two races in Canada."

With the World Championships approaching, Tadej Pogacar's shares once again skyrocket, but Van Gils suggested to HLN that there might be ways to defeat the Slovenian for at least someone - Remco Evenepoel. "Pogacar did show that he is in form, he was very strong, but maybe not gigantic. It’s strange to say, but his attack wasn’t like his attacks in the Tour. I do think he is the favorite for Zürich, but I hope Remco will be ready as well."

His compatriot Tiesj Benoot was a bit more cautious: "He dares to attack with two laps to go. That shows he is very confident and has come out of his rest period in good shape. Matteo (Jorgenson) tried to follow, but he blew up. That proves enough that Pogacar is in shape. I think right now there is only one person in the world who can follow Pogacar if he is in good shape, and that’s Remco. I hope that will be the case in two weeks."