German cycling has now been waiting 57 years for a world championship title in the road race. Rudi Altig achieved the feat at the Nürburgring in 1966. However, it is unlikely that the long wait will come to an end at the World Championships in Glasgow.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Top 10 in it for German riders?
"Of course we are among the underdogs. But I assume that we have the riders and the class to finish in the top ten," says the new national coach André Greipel, who won the last medal in Copenhagen in 2011 with bronze.
Nils Politt from Cologne will captain the 271.1 kilometre race starting in Edinburgh and finishing at George Square in Glasgow, with classics specialist John Degenkolb also expected to play an important role.
Pogacar is considered the favourite
But the favourites are others. Such as two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, who only arrived in Scotland at the last minute on Friday evening. The Slovenian had hesitated for a long time after his second place in the most recent Tour de France before confirming his participation. But the rainbow jersey is a dream come true for him, said the 24-year-old.
Remco Evenepoel fulfilled this dream last year at the age of 22 - just like his legendary compatriot Eddy Merckx. Can he possibly repeat the coup? His preparation has not been ideal, and one day before the race his father, of all people, triggered speculation that the Belgian all-rounder might change teams. The German cycling team Bora-hansgrohe is even rumoured to be a possible new employer.
It remains to be seen whether the vortex is conducive to performance. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, another top contender for the title, learnt last year that too much background noise can be damaging. After a dispute with two girls in the hotel who had knocked on his room door several times, he spent the night before the race at the police station - and finally gave up early on the course.
Other title contenders include the Belgian Wout van Aert and the Danish former world champion Mads Pedersen.
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