‘It’s a long shot, but Julian Alaphilippe is my pick’: Sean Kelly makes his prediction for the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships
The cycling legend and now commentator has given his thoughts on the men’s road race
Sean Kelly has picked out Julian Alaphilippe as favourite to win the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships.
Retired cycling great Kelly has given his thoughts on the favourites for the elite men’s road race, as the Worlds kick off in the north of England on Sunday (September 22).
The Irishman, now a familiar voice as a commentator on Eurosport’s cycling coverage, told Cycling Weekly: “It would be a very long shot at the moment, but Alaphilippe is the rider I would pick.
“He’s a rider that can get over the lumpy stuff, his style of racing is very aggressive. If it comes down to a group sprint, you won’t have the real fast men, and he is pretty fast in the sprint when he’s in a small group at the end of a long race.”
Alaphilippe is a strong bet for the Yorkshire Worlds, having won Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and Fléche Wallone before winning two stages of the Tour de France and coming within days of taking the overall.
>>> Egan Bernal and Vincenzo Nibali will skip Yorkshire 2019 World Championships
The men’s road race, which covers 285km from Leeds to Harrogate, closes out the Yorkshire 2019 Worlds on Sunday, September 29.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
With three major climbs along the course and seven laps of a tough finishing circuit in Harrogate, the course is expected to favour riders who thrive in a long Classics-style racing and who can finish fast in a reduced group.
Kelly, a former winner of the Vuelta a España, Milan-San Remo, and Paris-Roubaix to name just a few, added: “The course is pretty testing. Weather conditions will have a big bearing because if you get a bad day where it’s wet and windy and pretty cold, that could make it really difficult.
“But if you get nice weather then you could get a lot of guys hanging in there.
"Good weather conditions I think a lot of riders will be in there with a chance to get on the podium and to win a World Championship."
Alaphilippe is among the top favourites for the race, alongside Mathieu van der Poel and former triple world champion Peter Sagan.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
'All he had to do was say sorry' - Cyclist wins court case and £4k after being hit by driver
Harry Gray plans to spend his compensation on 'the trip of a lifetime'
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel to race 11 cyclocross races this season, from the Zonohoven World Cup to the World Championships
Dutchman to defend his world title in northern France at beginning of February
By Adam Becket Published
-
Latvia protest against Mathieu van der Poel's World Championships result, saying he 'endangered spectators'
Latvian Cycling Federation calls on UCI to explain decision not to disqualify Dutchman who mounted pavement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I was pushing but I couldn't feel my legs' - GB's Oscar Onley on his breakout World Championships ride
The 21-year-old was the youngest man in the top-20 in Zürich and matched some of the big guns on his way to 16th
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was a stupid move, but it worked' - Tadej Pogačar on his history-making World Championships ride
Welcome to the Pogačar era, where the Slovenian can attack from 100km to the line and still win. It's just starting.
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Crazy', 'not normal', 'another level' - Peloton reacts to another Tadej Pogačar solo masterclass at World Championships
The win was not unexpected, but the way it happened might have been, as the Slovenian soloed to historic victory
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar completes stunning Triple Crown with 51km solo to maiden rainbow jersey
Slovenian caps off imperious year with victory at the World Championships road race in Zurich
By Flo Clifford Published
-
'Everyone wants to win, sometimes that means everyone wants to lose' - Dutch attack, attack, and attack, but end up with fifth after confusing World Championships road race
Demi Vollering staked everything on trying to win the rainbow bands, but it wasn't to be. Was there a better way?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky has 'perfect day' as she sprints to Worlds glory again
Belgian becomes seventh woman to defend the rainbow bands on tough day on the roads of Zürich
By Adam Becket Published
-
'In a sprint with Kopecky, that’s probably the best I can do' - Chloé Dygert content with silver in World Championships road race
The American took the best result for her country since 1991 in the road race, capping off great year for USA women's cycling
By Adam Becket Published