“There are at least fifteen riders who can win”: Bernard Hinault sees wide-open World Championships after Pogacar’s absence
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s season-ending injury has transformed the World Championships from a race with a clear favourite into one of the most unpredictable events on the 2026 calendar. The Slovenian will not be in Montréal to defend the rainbow jersey he won in Kigali last year, leaving the door open for a new world champion.
Pogacar suffered a serious crash during the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España on August 29. After undergoing surgery on his fractured collarbone, the five-time Tour de France winner confirmed that he would not race again in 2026.
His absence also rules him out of the World Championships, which will take place in Montréal from September 20 to 27, as well as the final major races of his season.
The 27-year-old has been almost impossible to beat whenever he has lined up this season. Without Pogacar, several riders suddenly having a realistic opportunity to claim the biggest one-day title in cycling. Former world champion Bernard Hinault believes the field is now far too open to identify only a handful of favourites.
Pogacar won the World Championships 2025 in Rwanda
A long list of potential world champions
Hinault believes as many as 15 riders could realistically leave Montréal with the rainbow jersey. Rather than replacing Pogacar with one obvious favourite, the French legend expects a much more uncertain battle.
“There are at least fifteen riders who can win! Paul Seixas can do it, Del Toro as well. Lorenzo Finn can win, as can Remco [Evenepoel]. There are a whole lot of them!” Hinault said in words gathered by RMC Sport.
Paul Seixas is one of the young riders who could benefit most from the absence of Pogacar. The Frenchman has already attracted considerable attention this season and will now enter the World Championships without having to find a way past the dominant rider who won the title in Rwanda twelve months ago.
Evenepoel, meanwhile, brings considerably more experience to the equation. The Belgian has already won world titles and Olympic gold, while Isaac Del Toro has established himself as another rider capable of fighting for gold.
The uncertainty could also have a major tactical impact. With no Pogacar to force the other nations to react to his attacks, teams may be more willing to race aggressively from further out. Smaller groups could form earlier, while riders who might previously have been considered outsiders could find themselves with a genuine chance of winning.
Read also
Hinault warns against overlooking Carapaz
Hinault also believes the older generation should not be written off. Among the experienced riders, he specifically singled out Richard Carapaz as someone capable of turning an unpredictable championship into an opportunity.
“And the old generation is still there. But there is one rider you must not forget, and that is Richard Carapaz. He is the warrior who attacks. He takes some big hits but he is always there. He has been Olympic champion, so he is capable of having a great championship,” Hinault said.
For Pogacar, however, the World Championships are no longer part of the equation. After an extraordinary season was brought to an abrupt end by his Vuelta crash, recovery will be the absolute priority, as the team has already announced.
Hinault believes that is exactly what the Slovenian needs: “The best thing is to rest and refocus on next year,” he concluded.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
Loading
1 Comments