Julian Alaphilippe at the Worlds in Harrogate, September 29, 2020. -

jeep.vidon / SIPA

The French Cycling Federation on Wednesday unveiled a pre-selection of 13 riders for the road race for the 2020 Worlds, which will take place from September 24 to 27 in Imola, Italy.

The final selection will include eight riders, who will be nominated after the Tour de France.

Obviously, with this remodeled calendar, coach Thomas Voeckler relied on the men present on the Grande Boucle (12 out of 13).

Initially planned for Martigny (Switzerland), with a very mountainous course, the Worlds will finally take place in Imola (Italy);

The profile is a bit rugged but much more rolling.

Alaphilippe "not yet 100% but we know him"

“At the start with an Thibaut (Pinot), a Romain (Bardet) and a Julian (Alaphilippe) on the course in Switzerland, we were obviously among the favorites.

Here we are more outsiders, explained Thomas Voeckler to

L'Equipe

.

[The course] is more conducive to punchers who know how to climb.

"

A description that matches Julian Alaphilippe, who will naturally be the leader of the team.

“Julian may not be 100% yet, but we know him.

He still has a week to ramp up after the Tour, ”said the coach.

Pinot in the nation's reserve

"I really want to finish this Tour well, but the main objective is not to end up too tired, keeping in mind everything that will follow behind, the Worlds and the classics," said the person on Monday. , during the day off.

In difficulty since the start of the Tour and his fall during the 1st stage, Thibaut Pinot could play the role of joker, even if he declared on Monday that he did not want to "take the place of another" in the selection, he who had made the Worlds one of the goals of his season.

“I want to keep Thibaut as a joker, we'll wait a bit to see if he's better,” Voeckler said.

Vice-world champion 2018, Romain Bardet, victim of a concussion following a fall during the 13th stage, was however not selected.

Rémi Cavagna and Benjamin Thomas will defend the French colors during the time trial, scheduled for September 25 ,.

The complete French pre-selection:

Road race: Julian Alapaphilippe, Warren Barguil, Julien Bernard, Kenny Elissonde, Valentin Madouas, Guillaume Martin, Rudy Molard, Quentin Pacher, Pierre-Luc Perichon, Nans Peters, Thibaut Pinot, Pierre Rolland, Alexis Vuillermoz.

Time trial: Rémi Cavagna, Benjamin Thomas

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