Imola (Italy) (AFP)

Rainbow over Imola: the Italian circuit hosts the Mondial de cyclisme, Sunday, for a very open race which struggles to find a favorite between the Belgian Wout van Aert, the Swiss Marc Hirschi and the French Julian Alaphilippe seven days later the end of the Tour de France.

Will those absent from the Tour benefit from their physical and mental freshness?

It is the hope of the Danish Jakob Fuglsang, to watch very closely, of the Canadian Michael Woods and the Australian Michael Matthews at the start of the 258 kilometers.

All three are already on the podium of the Olympics or the World Cup, without reaching the top step.

For the runners who left the three weeks of the Tour, the main question is recovery.

"I haven't done too much this week", announces Alaphilippe, satisfied with his recognition of the circuit which he considers to his advantage much more than that of Martigny (Switzerland) where the Worlds were initially scheduled.

Conversely, the inexhaustible van Aert, in the oven and in the mill since his victory on August 1 in the Strade Bianche, ran the Worlds time trial on Friday (2nd).

"It was a brutal effort but limited to 35 minutes," said the Belgian, disappointed with his silver medal.

"I will have recovered by Sunday".

- The ghost of Senna -

If he holds the shock in the last of the nine laps of the difficult course traced in the hills surrounding Imola, between fruit trees and vineyards, van Aert will obviously be the favorite on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari autodrome that the race will take in his last 3400 meters.

Curva Acque Minerali, Tosa, Tamburello, modified since the fatal accident of Ayrton Senna in 1994, so many names evocative for the fans of F1 who followed the various GP of San Marino from 1981 to the mid-2000s.

Two hills, Mazzolano and Gallisterna, each presenting a very steep part (between 13 and 15%), favor the attackers, who are then quickly lost to sight by the pursuers on the sometimes narrow but covered road.

With an unknown weather side, since forecasters announce the onset of rain as the finish approaches.

Sunday winner of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar stayed away from the fever of enthusiasm that gripped Slovenia for the youngest winner of the century in the history of the Great Loop.

"With the Covid, it's complicated to celebrate," tempered the Slovenian, 22 years old since Monday, who returned to his home in Monaco.

- Different from the Tour -

"My season is far from over," added Pogacar, who has reunited with runner-up Primoz Roglic in the Slovenian squad.

The World Cup is run each year according to the formula of the national teams, and not of the brand teams, which adds an additional tactical element in the distribution of forces.

"It would be a fairy tale if he (Roglic) wins but it's a little different from the Tour de France," Pogacar recalled.

I expect a completely different race from what we saw on the Tour ", confirmed Alaphilippe.

But the fit men of the Tour, such as the Swiss revelation Marc Hirschi, the German champion Maximilian Schachmann or the Polish Michal Kwiatkowski, start with a favorable prejudice in this long-term race which, by its total vertical drop of the order of 5000 meters, approaches - and even exceeds - Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Italy, which hosts its first Worlds since Florence in 2013, wants to believe in Vincenzo Nibali, its most charismatic rider.

"I am sincere when I say that I do not really know where I am for my condition", assures the Sicilian.

Does the "Shark of Messina" hide its game?

The Giro, his big goal of the season, begins six days after the World Cup in Imola.

© 2020 AFP