The Road Cycling World Championships are set for a dramatic showdown this Sunday, with established stars like Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock expected to be strong contenders for victory. However, the absence of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who is recovering from injuries sustained in the Vuelta a Espana, has opened the door for younger riders like Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas to make their mark. Pogacar, who will return to racing in the UAE team next season, is likely to be watching from home or on his indoor trainer. British rider Callum Thornley, who will support Pidcock and Adam Yates, described the situation as a shift in dynamics, with top riders now fighting for the win rather than just the podium. This is a significant opportunity for many riders to claim the prestigious rainbow jersey, which signifies world champion status. The course for this year’s men’s race in Montreal is more familiar to riders compared to last year’s challenging event in Kigali, which featured over 5,000m of climbing and difficult conditions. This year’s route includes 12 laps of the Mont Royal circuit, totaling 273km, with 269m of elevation gain per lap. The performance of riders in last week’s Grand Prix de Montreal may be a strong indicator of how they will fare in the world championship. Remco Evenepoel, who recently won his fourth consecutive time-trial world title, believes the course will favor climbers and gives him a strong chance to win. Tom Pidcock, who finished sixth in Montreal, believes younger climbers like del Toro and Seixas could surprise the field. If either of them wins, it could signal a new era in cycling after Pogacar’s dominance. However, Pidcock acknowledges that one-day races are unpredictable, as seen in last year’s women’s race when Magdeleine Vallieres won unexpectedly. The women’s race on Saturday will feature a strong field, with Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma as the main contenders. Vollering has had a stellar year, but has struggled to translate that success into a world championship win. Niewiadoma, her main rival, is also in strong form. Other riders like Cedrine Kerbaol, Kim Le Court, and Elisa Longo Borghini could also pose a challenge. Great Britain is having a successful championships, with a strong team of 49 riders competing at the WorldTour level. Zoe Backstedt, who won silver in the elite time trial, and Aalia Clay, who took bronze in the junior TT, are among the standouts. Backstedt’s performance at the Tour de France Femmes showed her potential in the elite road races. With Pogacar absent, the stage is set for any number of riders to shine and claim the coveted rainbow jersey.