(UAE) stars announced for World Championships: besides Del Toro, Ayuso, Sivakov, and French wonderkid Pogacar also in

UAE has already taken 85 victories this year, and aside from Pogacar, many of those came from climbers who in Rwanda won’t be racing with their leader, but against him. For Spain, that means Juan Ayuso, who is leaving the team after this season. He won two stages in the Vuelta a España and in the road race will be supported by Marc Soler among others. Roger Adrià and Iván Romeo are also interesting names.

In the time trial, Spain will play off Romeo and Raúl García Pierna as two outsiders with a solid shot at the top ten. That means no time trial for Ayuso, who in Rwanda will focus fully on the road race. Since his failed Giro d’Italia in May, that race has been his main goal, while the Vuelta, with Pogacar absent, became a bit of an extra target along the way.

Road race:
Roger Adria
Juan Ayuso
Abel Balderstone
Carlos Canal
Raul Garcia Pierna
Ivan Romeo
Marc Soler
Carlos Verona

Time Trial:
Raul Garcia Pierna
Iván Romeo

France also has some interesting names on its roster, again with a UAE connection. Pavel Sivakov, the man who set the pace for Pogacar for a long stretch last year, is an outsider. In addition, GP Québec winner Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) are two notable names on the list.

For the time trial, France, under national coach Thomas Voeckler, counts on Bruno Armirail, who will ride for Visma | Lease a Bike in 2026. Seixas will also line up for the race against the clock. The prodigy recently won the Tour de l’Avenir and can rightfully be placed alongside Isaac Del Toro as a young challenger to Pogacar at the World Championships. Del Toro will represent Mexico, having won the Tour de l’Avenir back in 2023.

Road race:
Julian Alaphilippe
Valentin Madouas
Pavel Sivakov
Paul Seixas
Louis Barré
Julien Bernard
Jordan Jegat
Valentin Paret-Peintre.

Time trial:
Bruno Armirail
Paul Seixas