World Championships Montreal 2026 ***SPOILERS***

[Cathryn]

I'm confused by the men's Elite race; so many possibilities. Assuming Vollering is more certain for the Women's?

Vollering is definitely the favourite but the Dutch team haven’t worked well together for many years so I don’t think it’s nailed on. This year, they’ve chosen a team of domestiques to support Demi so they do seem to be targeting just one leader rather than an embarrassment of riches that end up going nowhere. I would love to see Demi in rainbow bands, she’s by far the strongest rider this year.

The women’s peloton definitely has tough competition for her though. Reusser is strong, Kasia has had a cracking year, ELB is on top form.

I absolutely love women’s racing and am very much looking forward to the race.

 

[DeadCalm]

That was a very enjoyable race to watch with a truly good winner.
Defrance was well worthy of his silver finish

Noval is the first to double up since Remco, isn't he? Noval is clearly the best junior right now but not as dominant as I recall Remco was. Then again, I suspect that the overall standard is much higher these days with the involvement of WT teams in the junior ranks.

 

[Archie from BR]

Noval is the first to double up since Remco, isn't he? Noval is clearly the best junior right now but not as dominant as I recall Remco was. Then again, I suspect that the overall standard is much higher these days with the involvement of WT teams in the junior ranks.

Yes Remco did the double in 2018 and he won almost every race he entered that year.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Noval is the first to double up since Remco, isn't he? Noval is clearly the best junior right now but not as dominant as I recall Remco was. Then again, I suspect that the overall standard is much higher these days with the involvement of WT teams in the junior ranks.

Remco won everything in 2018 - but he was a 2nd year Jnr that year, and also a January kid, so became one of the oldest to win the Jnr World champs (PCS has him at 3rd oldest for the RR and 2nd oldest for the TT).

Noval is an October kid and still 17 for a couple of weeks. Those few months difference can really show at this early stage (there are also studies showing that birth date plays a significant part in future athletic success - presumably because a whole load of kids get fed up of being beaten by someone almost a year older than them and drop out of whatever sport they were playing).

That said, Remco stepped up to WT in 2019 and still won San Sebastian and a couple of other bits and bobs, before winning just about everything in 2020 until he chucked himself off a bridge in Lombardia

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Remco won everything in 2018 - but he was a 2nd year Jnr that year, and also a January kid, so became one of the oldest to win the Jnr World champs (PCS has him at 3rd oldest for the RR and 2nd oldest for the TT).

Noval is an October kid and still 17 for a couple of weeks. Those few months difference can really show at this early stage (there are also studies showing that birth date plays a significant part in future athletic success - presumably because a whole load of kids get fed up of being beaten by someone almost a year older than them and drop out of whatever sport they were playing).

That said, Remco stepped up to WT in 2019 and still won San Sebastian and a couple of other bits and bobs, before winning just about everything in 2020 until he chucked himself off a bridge in Lombardia

The youngest Jnr RR winner is, of course, a viking Albert Withen Philipsen in Glasgow in '23. He was a month short of his 17th birthday.
Currently still eligible for u23 for a couple more years but recovering from two really bad training crashes in May and August

 

[MadMalx]

Those few months difference can really show at this early stage (there are also studies showing that birth date plays a significant part in future athletic success - presumably because a whole load of kids get fed up of being beaten by someone almost a year older than them and drop out of whatever sport they were playing).

"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell is a very interesting read and has this as a very strong driver of success, especially in sports.

 

[DeadCalm]

Remco won everything in 2018 - but he was a 2nd year Jnr that year, and also a January kid, so became one of the oldest to win the Jnr World champs (PCS has him at 3rd oldest for the RR and 2nd oldest for the TT).

Noval is an October kid and still 17 for a couple of weeks. Those few months difference can really show at this early stage (there are also studies showing that birth date plays a significant part in future athletic success - presumably because a whole load of kids get fed up of being beaten by someone almost a year older than them and drop out of whatever sport they were playing).

That said, Remco stepped up to WT in 2019 and still won San Sebastian and a couple of other bits and bobs, before winning just about everything in 2020 until he chucked himself off a bridge in Lombardia

The other factor that makes it hard to judge how good a dominant junior rider will turn out to be, is that you don't know how good the riders he's dominating are. Looking at the top 10 from 2018, apart from Remco, it doesn't look terribly strong.

1 Evenepoel Remco
2 Mayrhofer Marius
3 Fancellu Alessandro
4 Balmer Alexandre
5 Wandahl Frederik
6 Benedetti Gabriele
7 Charrin Aloïs
8 Vermaerke Kevin
9 Tiberi Antonio
10 Quinn Sean

Although Seixas, Finn and Albert Withen Philipsen won a lot in the juniors, they didn't dominate in the way that Remco did because they were up against each other and, it turns out, they were all really good. Same could be said for 2013 when MVDP and Mads P were juniors.

 

[Dogtrousers]

there are also studies showing that birth date plays a significant part in future athletic success - presumably because a whole load of kids get fed up of being beaten by someone almost a year older than them and drop out of whatever sport they were playing).

I had that, being the youngest kid in the year. This, compounded with a complete lack of any athletic ability, strength, coordination, skill or indeed any interest in sport, is why I feel I was robbed of my chance to become an elite athlete.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

The other factor that makes it hard to judge how good a dominant junior rider will turn out to be, is that you don't know how good the riders he's dominating are. Looking at the top 10 from 2018, apart from Remco, it doesn't look terribly strong.

1 Evenepoel Remco
2 Mayrhofer Marius
3 Fancellu Alessandro
4 Balmer Alexandre
5 Wandahl Frederik
6 Benedetti Gabriele
7 Charrin Aloïs
8 Vermaerke Kevin
9 Tiberi Antonio
10 Quinn Sean

Although Seixas, Finn and Albert Withen Philipsen won a lot in the juniors, they didn't dominate in the way that Remco did because they were up against each other and, it turns out, they were all really good. Same could be said for 2013 when MVDP and Mads P were juniors.

Yeah, Seixas and Withensen particularly tended to split results between them. Could be an epic rivalry ahead, given they're only three weeks difference in age!

Mind you, Tiberi isn't a bad rider, would probably be a lot better if he hadn't killed that cat

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I had that, being the youngest kid in the year. This, compounded with a complete lack of any athletic ability, strength, coordination, skill or indeed any interest in sport, is why I feel I was robbed of my chance to become an elite athlete.

Same same....Nearly. Not quite the youngest, but lack of athletic ability or interest was legendary. I only ever really liked going on a bike ride or a walk

 

[DeadCalm]

Pleased to see that Noah Lindholm Moller Andersen has been selected for the Danish U23 team. Hopefully, he's fully recovered from his injury.

Who do we think is going to win? Bravo and Ramirez the favourites in the absence of Finn? I have a sneaky feeling Driesen and Sparfel will show well.

I shall be saving my special cheers though for Thailand's very own* Isaiah Judah Thompson whose best result, according to PCS, is 24th on a stage at the Yellow River Estuary (Dongying) Road Cycling Race .

*since he decided to stop being America's own Isaiah Judah Thompson a couple of years ago.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Only 3 junior road race world champions have gone on to win the senior title. Remco and MvdP being the recent ones.
The other was IIRC, Greg LeMond.

 

[DeadCalm]

Only 3 junior road race world champions have gone on to win the senior title. Remco and MvdP being the recent ones.
The other was IIRC, Greg LeMond.

I think I am right in saying that Remco and Lemond are the only winners of the junior world road race to win a grand tour.

 

[misforturob]

MU23 approaching halfway

Break of five including Matty Dodd with a lead of 1:45

 

[phreak]

I think I am right in saying that Remco and Lemond are the only winners of the junior world road race to win a grand tour.

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