2021 UCI Road Race Preview for 26 September, the last day of the World Championship

The elite men’s road race in this year’s UCI Road World Championships is held this Sunday, the 26th of September. Some of the best cyclists will compete in the 267km-long race between Antwerp and Leuven. Including the defending world champion, Julian Alaphilippe, and the Belgian fan’s favorite, Wout van Aert. Who is the main contender for the victory according to the 2021 UCI road race preview? 

The one-week event of the 2021 UCI Road World Championships will end with the elite men’s road race on Sunday, 26th of September. The race will cover more than 267 km in two different loops around Leuven. Featuring several climbs with an elevation gain of 2562 meters. Belgian fans are hoping that their superstar, Wout van Aert can finally get the gold medal after getting the silver in last year’s race. The Jumbo-Visma rider also finished second in the time trial world championship race last Sunday behind Filippo Ganna, as it was predicted. But now he is the top favorite to get the gold on home soil. With a victory van Aert could follow the steps of former Belgian world champions, like Eddy Merckx or Rik Van Steenbergen who got three gold medals in their careers.

2021 UCI Road Race Preview Favor Van Aert for the Gold Medal

One of the most versatile cyclists, Wout van Aert is favored to win the race on Sunday by online sportsbooks in Belgium. Bookmakers offer the smallest odds, 2.625 for the Belgian’s victory. This is not surprising after his top form all season. Van Aert won three stages in this year’s Tour de France, one-day classics, and the 2021 Tour of Britain. Plus the silver medal in the road race at the Tokyo Olympics where he finished behind Richard Carapaz. Now the 26-year-old cyclist is the top favorite for the gold which could crown his season.

One of his biggest rivals at the beginning of the year was Mathieu Van Der Poel. Who has the odds of 7.90 now in the 2021 UCI road race preview to win the gold. The Dutch cyclist also won a stage in this year’s Tour de France. Plus the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico and the 2021 Tour de Suisse. He got the win in the 2021 Strade Bianche as well. Where he defeated both of his main rivals, van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe. But the Alpecin-Felix rider has been suffering from a back injury in the last few weeks so his start on Sunday is still uncertain. Unlike the defending champion, who has the odds of 13.00 to keep his rainbow jersey. Alaphilippe has had a good season as well but he only got one race victory this year at the 2021 La Fleche Wallonne.

Colbrelli, Cort, and Pgacar in Other Favorites

Sonny Colbrelli has become a top contender as well with his victory at the 2021 European Road Championships two weeks ago. The Italian also won this year’s Benelux Tour. And the points classifications in the Tour de Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine. A very impressive list from the 31-year-old who has the odds of 12.00 to win the race on Sunday. The Danish team can also be strong with the 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen, Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen. And with Magnus Cort who managed to win three stages in this year’s Vuelta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOq7GsnONoE

Online gambling sites in Belgium also mention the two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar in the favorites. Pogacar also won the UAE Tour, the Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Tour of Slovenia. Besides finishing third at the Olympic road race. He only finished fifth in the European Championships though this route might work better for him. His compatriot, Primoz Roglic also successfully defended his Vuelta title for the third time. And won the time trial race at the Olympics. Now he can race for the rainbow jersey along with the third Slovenian rider, Matej Mohoric. The Slovenian road champion has the smallest odds, 21.00 from the trio to win the gold medal on Sunday thanks to his great current form.

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