One other rainbow jersey is to be displayed relatively than worn. For the fourth yr in succession, the boys’s under-23 time trial on the World Championships was received by a fully-fledged skilled rider, as Movistar’s Iván Romeo powered to victory on the shores of Lake Zurich. Perhaps it is little surprise that the UCI is on the cusp of fixing the class’s eligibility guidelines.
Romeo was preceded as champion by Søren Wærenskjold, Johan Worth-Pejtersen and Lorenzo Milesi, who had been already racing at skilled degree on the time of their under-23 world titles. The Spaniard was joined on the rostrum in Zurich by Continental rider Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden, and bronze medallist Jan Christen (Switzerland), one in every of three UAE Group Emirates riders within the area along with Isaac del Toro (Mexico) and Antonio Morgado (Portugal).
The pre-race favorite, in the meantime, was Lotto-Dstny’s Alec Segaert (Belgium), who needed to accept fourth in Zurich after profitable the time trial on the Renewi Tour. Different top-level riders in motion on Monday included Darren Rafferty (Eire), who raced the Vuelta a España with EF Schooling-EasyPost, and Ineos riders Michael Leonard and AJ August.
After opening the under-23 class to Professional Continental riders in 2005 after which to WorldTour riders in 2017, the UCI is now on the cusp of strolling again these earlier amendments. The DirectVélo web site reported final week that WorldTour and Professional Continental riders can be barred from UCI Highway World Championship occasions within the age grouping beginning subsequent yr.
Romeo, inevitably, was requested in regards to the rule change as he made his approach by the combined zone within the rainbow jersey. The Valladolid native has spent two seasons racing at Movistar. Though he has participated in races just like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, he informed reporters that he’s nonetheless basically serving his apprenticeship as a professional rider.
“It is in fact controversial as a result of it is the under-23 class, however I am solely 21 myself,” Romeo stated. “Perhaps it is not truthful for the Conti riders and in addition for the newbie riders who experience with us. But when we’re within the WorldTour, it is as a result of we’re the very best and we’re additionally nonetheless below 23. I do not know. I am good with it. It’s what it’s.”
Romeo shrugged off the truth that he might by no means put on his newly earned rainbow bands in competitors, and maybe that time is moot. Most junior world champions transfer up a class earlier than they’ll put on their rainbow jerseys, in any case, and even the newbie world champions of outdated tended to maneuver immediately into the paid ranks after claiming their titles.
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“That is not necessary for me now,” Romeo stated. “This jersey can be eternally in my room, I achieved it.”
Romeo, Spain’s first world champion on this occasion since Iván Gutiérrez in 1999, joked in regards to the rarity of his nation’s success towards the watch, not less than within the post-Induráin period. “In Spain, they all the time go for climbers, it is not straightforward for a giant man,” he smiled.
Though Romeo races at WorldTour, he had made the under-23 time trial an overarching goal this season. He arrived in Zurich some ten days earlier than the occasion, renting an condominium along with his father and performing repeated coaching rides alongside the parcours.
“We took an condominium in Zurich so we might recon the course and see all of the corners many times,” he stated. “And ultimately, after I see what occurred, it is unimaginable.”
Amateurs
Silver medallist Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden), who rides for the Lidl-Trek growth squad, would have been a world champion on Monday within the absence of WorldTour riders, however he took a nuanced view of the thorny query of the eligibility guidelines. He was the very best of the Continental and newbie riders within the area, however he additionally confessed to having fun with the prospect to measure himself towards established WorldTour execs.
“There are various good opinions about it,” Söderqvist stated. “There’s the opinion that it must be the amateurs’ likelihood to shine and get a contract, so perhaps it must be about who’s the very best Continental or newbie bicycle owner.
“However on the identical time, I believe it additionally validates the consequence when the professional riders enroll they usually need to race it. For an newbie, it is a good comparability of the way you match up with them. I haven’t got too robust an opinion about it myself. I am completely satisfied to see compete towards them and see how we match up.”
Söderqvist actually matched up strongly towards a rider who has caught the attention at the next degree in his first full season at UAE Group Emirates. Bronze medallist Jan Christen’s 2024 season has included victories on the Giro dell’Appennino, Prueba Villafranca and a stage of the Giro d’Abruzzo, whereas he additionally positioned ninth on the Clásica San Sebastián, the place he helped Marc Hirschi to victory.
“I believe I could be very happy with my first professional season. There usually are not many riders profitable three professional races on the age of 20, so I am completely satisfied,” stated Christen. “I confirmed sufficient this season I am among the best under-23 riders, so I haven’t got to show myself anymore.”
Christen will line up among the many favourites for the title in Friday’s under-23 highway race, an occasion that now seems to be set to mark the top of an period within the class. Romeo, in the meantime, gently rebuffed the concept an under-23 world title held much less significance for a longtime WorldTour rider.
“I have been two years with Movistar, however I simply turned 21, so I am nonetheless fairly younger, I believe,” he stated. “It is loopy the extent we now have even right here within the under-23 World Championships. As we speak was one in every of my most important objectives of the season. I used to be tremendous completely satisfied to be right here in good condition and win the TT.”
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