The World Cup, the 100th anniversary of the most exciting race on the calendar for national teams, live today (10:25, Teledeporte and Eurosport) in the sacred cycling land, Flanders, the great battle between the best riders on the planet. A route of 268 km dotted with heights and pavements in which Julian Alaphilippe will defend his rainbow jersey against hosts Belgium of Van Aert and Evenepoel, Slovenia of Pogacar and Roglic, Van der Poel … A race with multiple pools in which in a few moments an almost orphaned Spain appears without its eternal leader, Alejandro Valverde. “It may seem that we are covered, but we have pressure”, assures Pascual Momparler, the one in charge of a National Team in full relief able to face the cycling giants.
Aware that it is no longer possible to continue living off a 41-year-old Valverde, the responsibility falls on the new generation. “Yes, it is time. Those young people who have been more comfortable behind the veterans must now stand up. They are going to put themselves in front of the bull and they are the ones who have to defend this World Cup. They are capable of doing it, they have shown it in lower categories and I believe in them ”, the coach is sincere to AS in reference to cyclists such as Alex Aranburu who arrives with the responsibility of being the first trick or an Iván Cortina who must now attend to these appointments on the first line, more in a field like Flanders that adapts to its characteristics.
“They are two runners who love and excite the fans,” says Momparler. And they are not hiding. Both, two cyclists of the 1995 generation (they are turning 26 years old), know that they will have the responsibility, although the Basque seems to be starting as the first option. “He comes from third in the last race he contested (Memorial Pantani) and the cold and rain can benefit him, we are confident that he can do it really well.” Because, as the coach assures, after a whole week of good weather in Belgium, it seems that the rain does not want to miss this last day of the World Cup either. An element that, in this route made up of two circuits (Flanders and Leuven), with up to 42 heights and narrow roads and mousetraps that have already made a dent in the lower category events, can also be decisive.
A large square in which Aranburu and Cortina will have the support of many young people who have also earned the right to, at least, oppose an important runner, cGonzalo Serrano, Roger Adriá and Carlos Rodríguez, who join the more experienced Erviti, Lluis Mas (entered as a reserve after the injury of the debutant Soto) and a Gorka Izagirre Meteorological conditions should also be good for them, they should play an important role in the race.
And all in an appointment as special as Flanders and before the eyes of many of those who throughout history wore the rainbow, who were honored yesterday at a gala. “That motivates us all, from cyclists to mechanics, masseurs … In the land of Merckx and in front of the best fans in the world together with the Basque”, they coincide in the team. The moment of the Spanish relay must be confirmed in the best possible scenario. The World Cup.
The selection
59 A. Aranburu (Astana) 26 years and 4 professional victories
60 Imanol Erviti (Movistar) 37 years and 3 victories
61 Iván Cortina (Movistar) 25 years and 2 victories
62 Gorka Izagirre (Astana) 33 years and 9 wins
63 Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos) 20 years and 0 victories
64 Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar) 27 years and 2 victories
65 Lluis Mas (Movistar) 31 years and 1 victory
Numbers to follow
1 Julian Alaphilippe (France)
13 Remco Evenepoel (Belgium)
17 Wout van Aert (Belgium)
19 Matej Mohoric (Slovenia)
22 Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia)
24 Primoz Roglic (Slovenia)
28 Sonny Colbrelli (Italy)
32 Matteo Trentin (Italy)
36 Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain)
44 Bauke Mollema (Netherlands)
48 Mathie van der Poel (Netherlands)
50 Kasper Asgreen (Denmark)
55 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Denmark)
69 Michael Matthews (Australia)
77 Sergio Higuita (Colombia)
81 Rigoberto Urán (Colombia)
86 Maximilian Schachmann (Germany)
90 Marc Hirschi (Switzerland)
121 Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland)
161 Peter Sagan (Slovakia)