Slovenia hit by another Worlds setback after Pogacar and Zigart blows

The decision comes at the end of a remarkable few weeks for Omrzel. Aged just 20 and riding his first Grand Tour, the Bahrain Victorious rider won a stage at the Vuelta a España and eventually finished seventh overall, establishing himself as one of the discoveries of the race.

That breakthrough, however, has also taken its toll. The Slovenian Cycling Federation confirmed that Omrzel will miss the World Championships in order to recover from his efforts in Spain. Slovenia will therefore start the elite men's road race on September 27 with seven riders rather than eight.

His absence removes a tactical option from a team whose approach to Montréal has already changed dramatically in the space of three weeks, with Pogačar's Vuelta crash forcing the first major rethink.

The world champion crashed with 32 kilometres remaining while wearing the race leader's red jersey. He had already won three stages and held a lead of 3:50 over eventual winner Enric Mas. Medical examinations revealed a concussion, a displaced fracture of his left collarbone and a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra, although his team confirmed there was no neurological damage. He subsequently underwent surgery in Barcelona and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The 27-year-old has since returned to riding indoors, sharing footage of himself on a home trainer earlier this week, but Montréal was never a realistic target once the full extent of his injuries became clear.

Without Pogačar, Primož Roglič is set to take on a leading role for Slovenia in Montréal.

Speaking at a Slovenian Cycling Federation press conference earlier this month, national coach Uroš Murn said Pogačar's absence could at least change the tactical dynamic in Slovenia's favour, with much of the attention now shifting towards teams such as Belgium and France.

That means Slovenia will be under less pressure to control the race from the front and can wait for opportunities to develop.

Roglič will be supported by Jan Tratnik, Matej Mohorič, Luka Mezgec, Matevž Govekar, Gal Glivar and Tilen Finkšt.

Slovenia's problems are not limited to the men's race. Urška Žigart will also miss the Worlds after fracturing her jaw in a crash at the Tour de l'Ardèche. It was the same injury she suffered at the Tour de Suisse Women earlier this summer.

Žigart had enjoyed a strong season, finishing sixth at La Vuelta Femenina and eighth at the Giro d'Italia Women, before suffering her first injury setback. After returning to racing, she climbed to third overall at the Tour de l'Ardèche, where another crash caused the latest injury and is expected to bring her season to an early end.

For Slovenia, it leaves a very different World Championships picture from the one they had envisaged only a few weeks ago, with three of their most prominent riders now missing from Montréal.