‘It’s annoying’: Two hour recon window to crack 40km course frustrates Evenepoel ahead of Worlds time trial

Remco Evenepoel has made no secret of his frustration at being given just two hours to recon the full World Championships time trial course before defending his rainbow jersey in Canada.

The Belgian has spent the past few days training on his time trial bike around Bromont, working on his equipment and gearing, but has not yet been able to ride the complete 40 kilometre Worlds route.

That will only change on Saturday, when riders are given a two hour window on the closed roads.

“It’s annoying that we only get two hours, especially with such a big 40 kilometre loop,” Evenepoel told Sporza.

“It will be a bit of a puzzle. Maybe we can cut a corner somewhere so we can see one part of the course a little more. Luckily it is the same for everyone. That is the advantage.”

The restriction is far from ideal for a rider known for the precision of his time trial preparation, particularly on a course where Evenepoel expects small details to matter.

The defending champion has already studied the route, but believes the relatively flat nature of the course could have justified a longer race.

“Because it is so flat, they perhaps could have made it a little longer,” he said.

Evenepoel expects the 40 kilometres to take between 42 and 43 minutes, an effort that will leave little opportunity to recover.

“It is still a long effort, especially because of the long straight roads. There will constantly be pressure on the pedals.”

One section does stand out.

The finish rises towards the line, with a short climb late in the course that Evenepoel believes could play to his strengths if the battle for the rainbow jersey is still close.

He pointed to last weekend’s GP Montréal as proof of how quickly gaps can change on such terrain.

“It is a stupid example, but in the GP Montréal I was able to close 15 seconds there,” he said.

“That shows you can still make something up if you have a little more left in the tank. It is a section where my weight gives me an advantage, but I hope it does not come down to that.”

Evenepoel is trying to approach Sunday’s race like any other time trial, despite what is at stake.

The Belgian can extend an extraordinary run in the discipline and add another rainbow jersey to his collection, but says the process remains largely the same.

“The art is to treat every time trial in the same way,” he said.

There is, however, one rival who commands particular attention.

Evenepoel identified Filippo Ganna as the obvious threat on a fast course that should suit the Italian’s power.

“Together with me, he is the top favourite,” Evenepoel said.

“He is someone who can ride an incredibly strong final two or three kilometres because of his background in the pursuit. That is going to be dangerous. It will be closer than last year.”

Ganna was absent when Evenepoel won last year’s world title by a minute, but the Italian’s presence changes the equation this time.

Evenepoel nevertheless remains determined to keep the jersey he has become so accustomed to wearing.

“Once you have that jersey, you do not want to give it away anymore,” he said. “It is motivation to keep going for it. If you skip the European Championships and Belgian Championships, there is only one jersey you can go for.”