Paris (AFP)

Julian Alaphilippe to wrap up Rainbow Week in style, is the hope of the French team in the World Road Cycling that start Sunday in Yorkshire by the mixed relay against the clock.

"We are aiming for the title with Julian," announces the new national coach Thomas Voeckler, in the wake of a Tour de France long blue-white-red. The iridescent jersey in the major event of the Worlds, the online race scheduled for September 29, has escaped the French since the victory of Laurent Brochard in 1997.

In Yorkshire, the world championships promise a great popular success, even in the absence of the most successful British riders (Chris Froome), on the sidelines since his accident in June.

Britain has become a major cycling power and is hosting the annual world competition for the third time. Thirty-seven years after the victory of the Italian Beppe Saronni at Goodwood (England), at the previous edition in the United Kingdom, and five years after the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Yorkshire, memorable by the accession of the audience came in crowds.

Absentees, as always, are numerous (Froome, Bernal, Nibali, T. Dumoulin, S. Yates, Pinot, Bardet, Uran, Ewan, Groenewegen, etc.). Due to the date, the end of the season, and especially the profile of the course, less selective than the Austrian circuit of Innsbrück 2018 but guarantee however a tough race. Pure collar and sprint specialists have most often failed.

To dissect the list of favorites for the major title that will be awarded after some 285 kilometers - a distance rarely reached in the season - punchers, accustomed to the classics, are privileged.

- Autumn forecast -

Peter Sagan, the Slovakian candidate for the record of a fourth title, rubs shoulders with a rival of his ilk, the Dutch prodigy Mathieu van der Poel. "It's not illogical to be among the favorites after my spring," said VDP, who will debut in the elite Worlds.

The Belgians line up a multi-talented team, from the experienced Philippe Gilbert to the nugget Remco Evenepoel, who is also a podium contender on Wednesday in the time trial ... just one year after winning the junior title.

"I never thought I would get such results, it was crazy, especially after my success at (la Clasica) San Sebastian and the European time trial title," says Evenepoel, a phenomenon of precocity (19 years old). ).

The Australians believe in Michael Matthews, the Italians in Matteo Trentin, another elite puncher-sprinter. And the indefatigable Alejandro Valverde, the title holder, has just recalled on Vuelta (2nd) that he remained always formidable despite his 39 years. For Alaphilippe, around whom Voeckler built the team (with Bernard, Cavagna, Cosnefroy, Gallopin, Laporte, Roux, Sénéchal), nothing will be simple.

The weather forecast announces a typical autumnal weather, rainy on occasion, during the week. Eleven titles, taking into account the age categories, are to be awarded, one less than last year due to the replacement of the two time-trials in brand teams by the mixed relay (three men and three women together in the same formation).

All the races will end in Harrogate, a chic city (75,000 inhabitants) where the first stage of the 2014 Tour had arrived. With the victory of the German Marcel Kittel and the fall of the Briton Mark Cavendish. Five years later, evoking these two sprint stars is nostalgic.

© 2019 AFP