Top talents Del Toro and Seixas pay their dues in Kigali: "I’ll start Sunday thinking I’m the worst rider in the peloton"

Del Toro ultimately finished fifth, just a few seconds off the podium. The Mexican got off to a flying start and then dropped back a little, but still managed an excellent finish. The difference with bronze medalist Ilan Van Wilder was only four seconds, with Tadej Pogacar, who was overtaken by Evenepoel, between the two.

The 21-year-old top talent from UAE Emirates-XRG, who already has thirteen victories to his name this year, said he couldn't have gone any faster. “I can't blame myself, because I didn't have any more left in my legs. I can be proud of my performance: Remco Evenepoel, Jay Vine, and Ilan Van Wilder were simply stronger.”

“The time trial was perhaps a little too long for me. I lost quite a few seconds in the middle section, in particular, some of which I was able to make up towards the finish. That was according to plan, although I would have preferred not to have lost so much in that middle section,” he analyzed after his time trial. “It was a great experience in any case.”

“I did my best and maybe I just need to get stronger,” said Del Toro, who the bookies consider to be the biggest contender for the world title after Pogacar and Evenepoel. “I can't take much from this time trial going into Sunday. I'm starting with the idea that I'm the worst rider in the peloton. I'm probably not, but this way I find that I can focus better during my training.”

Seixas became the world time trial champion in the junior category last year in Zurich, but skipped the U23 category. The 18-year-old Frenchman, who won the Tour de l'Avenir three weeks ago, finished sixteenth in Kigali. “I am a bit disappointed. Not because of the result, but because of the way I handled the time trial sections.”

“I think a lot of riders will say the same thing, but I started too fast,” the youngster said. “After that, I couldn't stick to the plan. After ten kilometers, it was really more a matter of survival, and I'm not happy with that. I would have preferred to pace myself better.”

Seixas will have another chance on Wednesday, when he will also be part of a strong French team for the Mixed Relay. “I think we all learned something in the individual time trial, so that can only help us.” On Sunday, he will, of course, also be at the start of the road race, together with Julian Alaphilippe and Pavel Sivakov, among others.