Spaniards want to bombard "inimitable" Pogacar from start to finish: "Provoking from early on"

How can one defeat Tadej Pogacar? This will be one of the most frequently asked questions among the teams at the start of the World Cycling Championships in Zurich. Likewise, the Spaniards have somewhat exposed their plan two days before the race.

The Spanish team has one of the strongest formations across the board. With Pello Bilbao and Juan Ayuso, among others, they have two solid names who can cope well on a hilly course. The former told Marca he was confident of a good result for him and his country. "The course suits me perfectly, and I come from Montreal with confidence, where I got a good result (second, ed.). It was one of the best moments of the season. I'm refreshed enough to handle 270 kilometers. I come here well prepared."

In Canada, though, the Spaniard was put at a hefty disadvantage by Tadej Pogacar, who is logically the top favorite for the title on Sunday. How can the Spanish team field the Slovenian? "I think we have to provoke the situation from early on. If we allow Slovenia to hold the road until the last few kilometers, stopping Pogacar or Roglic will be impossible. We have a team with several assets to send people forward."

Bilbao on Pogacar: "It's practically impossible to follow him"

"Normally, he is predictable," the Bahrain Victorious rider continued about Pogacar. "He doesn't surprise you. He even often says where he's going to attack. But it's practically impossible to follow him. Sometimes, a rider tries for a while but usually goes wrong. You feel so much supremacy on his part that you start thinking about the best option."

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In recent years, results have been lacking for the Spanish team at world championships. "I think during the previous World Championships, we were below expectations. But the courses weren't that great either. Therefore, we may feel more pressure because we have a perfect course now and can't miss the opportunity."

Ayuso thinks missing Vuelta is advantage: "Everything focused on Zurich"

Bilbao's compatriot Ayuso will start at his first World Championship. "I think this World Championship has the course that best suits Spain as a team if you look at past years. It will be quite a luxury to ride with these teammates. This World Cup is good for all of us, and we are looking forward to it," he told Ciclismo Internacional. The youngster does not have much experience with endurance races. "Yes, it is new territory for me. I've raced some high-mileage events like the Amstel and the Olympics, but not a lot, so I need to discover myself more with a test like this."

Earlier this year, Ayuso was kept out of the selection by his team, the UAE Team Emirates. He believes that will ultimately be an advantage, looking ahead to Sunday. "By not doing the Vuelta, I had time to focus on the world championships, and all the races I've ridden in recent weeks have been focused on Zurich. I've had great experiences with the national team, and it's always nice to represent your country."