This Sunday, you probably know it, one of the most anticipated events of the cycling season will take place. This Sunday, the world 2021 will be officially launched, and to start the ball rolling, they are the solitary effort specialists, these watt machines set to the millimeter, who will compete for the first rainbow in September. A rainbow particularly coveted by the headliners present at the start, like Filippo Ganna, Wout Van Aert, Stefan Kung |… and Rémi Cavagna.
Because yes, after a few seasons spent waiting for its hatching at the best world level, the new French road champion seems ready to aim for a medal on the most important deadline of the calendar. And if the situation has changed, this is because the Clermont Ferrand TGV finally seems to have found its cruising speed, thanks in particular to his two World Tour victories on the routes of the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Poland.
Tell me who you beat, i will tell you who you are. At this game, difficult to fault the Deceuninck Quick Step rider, who bought himself Filippo Ganna's scalp, Stefan Küng, Geraint Thomas, Stefan Bissegger, Mattia Cattaneo, Mikkel Bjerg or his teammate Joao Almeida during his successes. Victories acquired against the cadors of the peloton, which legitimately make him one of the favorites for the world title race. Its performances during the last two major rounds, the Olympics and Europe, do not play in his favor, with a 17th and a 9th place which had little flavor to his liking.
But it is also worth remembering that among the contenders for victory, seuls Wout Van Aert, Filippo Ganna, Stefan Kung and Stefan Bissegger have won at least twice in the World Tour or in major events this season, one more box checked by the best rouleur in France.
But the element that could make all the difference this time around, undoubtedly lies in the confidence he has displayed in recent months. A trust that, by his own admission, has been sorely lacking since his professional debut. From now on, more complexes to have, it is a determined Rémi Cavagna who will face one of the major events of his career this Sunday, to take this last step that separates him from the greatest and succeed, 24 years after him, to a certain Laurent Jalabert…
