Is Vollering a big favorite for Worlds road race?

Unless the women’s race isn’t as elevation-heavy as the men’s, my uncareful analysis is that Vollering is a pretty significant favorite. Her one-day chops haven’t been as impressive as 2023, but she still has the punch and the climbing legs to win, and hard to see anyone else who should be close to her as a favorite.

PCS startlist is obviously far from complete, but I don’t see anyone who’d be a favorite ahead of Demi on a climbing-heavy course. Nieuwiadoma has beaten Vollering twice: 2023 gravel “worlds” (quotes a knock to the UCI, not Kasia) and 2024 Fleche. Kopecky not quite enough of a climber. Vos even less of a climber.

Of course nothing is guaranteed, and Demi’s one-day tactics often leave stuff on the table (including a probable-in-my-mind Vos win at last year’s worlds). Couldn’t find betting odds for the women, which might be due to start list uncertainty.

The profile looks quite Liege like with even more climbing. Hard not to see Demi as the favourite, even if she’s not dominating this year. Plus the Dutch team is crazy strong, if (big) they work together. That said I still think she still will want the win too badly and could be pushed to make questionable choices like last year. Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Reusseur are up there too as is a hopefully illness free ELB. Expecting a crazily attritional race.

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Looks like PFP realized that she could warrant co-favorite status. Good reason to travel to worlds, IMHO.

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