Enric Mas attacking out of nowhere and catching Marc Hirschi. Vamos! #Zurich2024
"Tadej was by far the best of the day" - Marc Hirschi played his cards but it was not enough to take medal at World Championships
CyclingMonday, 30 September 2024 at 11:45
The World Championships took place in Switzerland and in the men's elite road race, the home crowd was rooting for Marc Hirschi. The UAE Team Emirates rider put on a strong performance but his trade team colleague Tadej Pogacar was head and shoulders above the rest on the day he admits.
"It was incredibly tough. The finale started from the start [of the race]. It was a very nice day, special to have a kind of 'home race' during the World Championship. I've been training for this long, so it's nice that I could compete until the end," the home rider said in words to CyclingPro.net.
"I think Tadej was by far the best of the day. He got away on a big road, so everyone saw him attack. But we all know you will blow up if you try to follow him. Then I hoped Belgium would close the gap, but it didn't work out."
Hirschi seemed to play his cards well, remaining relatively under the radar throughout much of the race, until the final lap where he attacked on the steep ramps of the first ascent, creating a difference to the main chasing group. He was then joined by Enric Mas in the second ascent and the duo worked together to try and catch up with Toms Skujins and Ben Healy who had attacked previously. They did so successfully, but a few others joined from behind again.
"The last sixty kilometers, everyone was at their limit. I knew it would not be easy if I rode with Van der Poel to the finish. I tried to attack, but everyone was just as strong," he says. With such a quality field, the final circuit was not difficult enough to create real differences.
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It came down to the final sprint then for the bronze medal in the group and Hirschi had solid chances, but he couldn't take the result he had hoped for, crossing the line in sixth place.
"In the end, Ben O'Connor chose the right moment to jump away. I tried to keep Van der Poel's wheel in the sprint, but it didn't work out. I did everything I could, and I'm happy with my performance," he concluded.
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