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The 2023 Cycling ‘Super Worlds’ is well underway, with riders in a whole bunch of disciplines duking it out in Scotland to win rainbow bands for the next 12 months. While the road events are spread throughout the meet, several have already been held, including one of the marquee events: Sunday’s elite men’s road race.
It was an eventful race. Protestors halted the race for most of an hour, the racing was very aggressive on the gnarly finishing circuit, and there were a bunch of crashes as rain fell in Glasgow, among them Mathieu van der Poel who hit the deck while leading solo, but still managed to win by more than 90 seconds.
Join us as we relive the action, through the lens of photographers Kristof Ramon and Ashley and Jered Gruber.
The elite men’s road race started in Edinburgh and featured a long jaunt through the Scottish countryside before the finishing circuits in Glasgow.A nine-rider breakaway led for much of the race.The finishing circuit in Glasgow featured more than 40 corners …… and a bunch of punchy climbs.Defending champion Remco Evenepoel put in a bunch of attacks throughout the day, but ultimately nothing stuck.There were many attacks once the race reached the city circuits, with the break getting caught, an elite lead group forming, and many more moves besides.As race started to fall in Glasgow, Alberto Bettiol got away on his own.Rain in an inner-city circuit always makes for nervous cornering.The Belgians came in as one of the teams to beat …… with Evenepoel and Wout van Aert (second wheel) among the favourites.Remember 2019, in Yorkshire, when Mads Pedersen won? Similar conditions.Soggy.A sticky bidon will help you get up a 13% climb.Bettiol led solo from 55 km to go …… until 22 km to go, at which point the race-winning move was made.The chase group that would catch Bettiol with 22 km to go: Van Aert, Pedersen, Tadej Pogačar, and Van der Poel.Van der Poel made his move just as Bettiol was being caught. He punched away uphill and quickly opened a gap.Van Aert, Pedersen, and Pogačar in pursuit.Note the torn kit and blood on Van der Poel. He crashed with 16.6 km to go, but got back up quickly …… and continued on his way.In a road career full of big wins – two Tours of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, a stage of the Tour de France – this might be Van der Poel’s biggest win yet.After five cyclocross world titles, Van der Poel is now a world champion on the road too.Van der Poel looked very sore after the finish.Respect among rivals.That’s Van Aert’s second silver medal in a Worlds road race, after finishing second to Julian Alaphilippe in 2020.Bettiol was spent at the finish, having crossed the line 10th.Strong podium that. Van der Poel first, Van Aert second, and Pogačar third after beating Mads Pedersen in the sprint for bronze.
