Pogacar, Pidcock and Evenepoel look ahead to a chaotic day in Italy: "It's just rain, nothing special"

"It's just rain, nothing special," says the newly crowned world champion, shrugging it off. "I like this race. I’m already here in Italy for the Giro di Lombardia, so it just fits well into my program." However, Pogacar notes that the bad weather will change the nature of the race. "Today can be chaotic with this weather, because there's really a lot of rain and a lot of water on the road. There can be a bit chaos in the peloton, but we will try to control it as much as possible."

Pidcock is also unfazed by the weather. "To be honest, I’m in a good mood. We’re going on an adventure, aren't we, in the rain. I think if I stay warm, I’ll still be happy later." Still, he admits the weather brings an added challenge. "With the rain, some things can happen. It’s important to stay focused from the start. It might be a race with small numbers remaining at the end. The goal, of course, is to take advantage of that, but first, we need to get there, not get cold and stay was warm as we can." Can Pogacar be beaten, then? "He’s beatable, yeah, but will he be beat today? I don't know, maybe not," laughs the Brit.

Evenepoel's fall campaign hasn’t exactly started off well, with a DNF in the Giro dell'Emilia. He hopes to improve today, although the weather isn’t helping. "It’s not just raining slightly, it’s raining a lot. So we have to make sure to be cautious and get through safely." The Belgian isn’t feeling in top form. "I don’t feel great, I am just suffering my way through the races. It’s the last week of the season, it's been a long season. A few more races to give the maximum and from next Sunday on, I'm going on holiday."