Harrogate (United Kingdom) (AFP)

The world championship resembled Sunday in Yorkshire at the Tour of Flanders: for the first time, a Danish, Mads Pedersen, donned the rainbow jersey after a warrior race disputed in dantesque conditions.

In an almost incessant rain, the surprises multiplied throughout a day that began with the decision to reduce the race to 261 kilometers, about twenty kilometers less than the initial program. Enough, however, for runners to finish exhausted, rinsed.

"It was crazy," commented the title holder, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, one of many riders who gave up on the road. Crazy, crazy, crazy, like the ending that smiled on a young runner of 23 years who did not expect so much.

"Everyone was on the edge," said Pedersen, who sprinted ahead of Italian Matteo Trentin and Switzerland's Stefan Küng. "After six and a half hours on the bike, anything can happen, it's amazing!" In the image of this race rich in theatrical moves.

The two most important ones affected the two riders who were the favorites in view of the difficult weather conditions, the Belgian Philippe Gilbert and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel.

Gilbert dropped 125 kilometers from the finish, at the entrance to the final circuit. The 2012 world champion then received the help of his younger brother Remco Evenepoel but could not return to the peloton.

- Van der Poel's failure -

In the last lap, van der Poel, who caused the selection in the peloton 33 kilometers from the finish, glimpsed the iridescent jersey. The one his maternal grandfather, the former French champion Raymond Poulidor (three times medalist between 1964 and 1976), has never been able to wear.

The Dutchman, prodigal of his efforts, found himself in a strong position in a strong group of five riders. But he suffered a brutal failure within 13 kilometers of the line. Without strength, victim of a sudden craving, he joined the finish more than ten minutes from the winner.

Everything pleaded for the victory of Trentin, candidate for a title that escapes the "Squadra" since 2008. Presumed fastest, the Italian has even launched the sprint to 200 meters. Against all odds, Pedersen overflowed in the last 50 meters.

"All riders dream of this jersey," savored the Danish, a young runner who debuted in 2017 in the WorldTour on behalf of the US team Trek.

Of a size cut for the Flandrian classics (1.79 m for 74 kg), he has never participated in the Tour de France. Prior to his Harrogate success, he had 11 victories on his record, but his main title of glory was second place in the Tour of Flanders in 2018.

Rain, long omnipresent, disrupted this World. The course was shortened by about twenty kilometers, with two ribs less in the first part, the fan-zone transformed into a quagmire near the finish was closed and the TV retransmission was reduced (no image helico before the last hour, no motorcycle image for an hour and a half).

French side, Julian Alaphilippe tried to follow van der Poel when the Dutch caused the selection, in the coast of Oak Beck. But the leader of the "Blues" could not keep in touch (28th on arrival).

The first Frenchman, Tony Gallopin, was 23rd. "It was very hard," said the Francilian. "Indescribable!"

© 2019 AFP