Victim of a dislocated right shoulder at the end of August on the Vuelta, the double world champion should be able to defend his title in Australia on September 25.
Thomas Voeckler unveiled this Tuesday the list of nine riders selected for the road event of the World Cycling Championships, in Wollongong (Australia), on September 25 (departure at 7:15 p.m. French time). Uncertain since his heavy fall at the end of August on the Vuelta, the double title holder, Julian Alaphilippe, has been selected.
He will be accompanied by Romain Bardet, Bruno Armirail, Rémi Cavagna, Christophe Laporte, Valentin Madouas, Quentin Pacher Florian Sénéchal and Pavel Sivakov. Rémi Cavagna and Bruno Armirail will also compete in the time trial which will take place next Sunday.
Gaudu, Cosnefroy Pinot, Démare and Martin failed
Among the main absentees are David Gaudu, fourth in the Tour de France, Benoît Cosnefroy, winner of the Quebec GP last Friday, sprinter Arnaud Démare, Guillaume Martin and Thibaut Pinot.
Julian Alaphilippe, 30, has not raced since August 31 and his retirement from a fall during the 11th stage of the Tour of Spain, which he left with a dislocated right shoulder.
On paper, however, there was little doubt about his selection insofar as a place is reserved for the reigning world champion regardless of the quota of eight riders to which the French team is entitled. Thomas Voeckler therefore did not have to choose between himself and another.
But his selection also acknowledges the fact that he was able to quickly resume training after his retirement from the Vuelta, motivated by the prospect of defending his rainbow jersey in Wollongong, on the east coast of Australia, on a 266.9 km route carved out for its qualities as a puncher.
If Alaphilippe does indeed participate in the road race, there will be nine French people at the start. And if ever he had to give up by then because he doesn’t feel ready, there will be eight of them, like the other great cycling nations.