The elite women's world championship in Kigali kicks off this morning with the individual time trial. And it promises to be more uncertain than ever given the track characteristics that are unlike traditionally encountered time trial routes.

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The athletes will compete over a distance of 31.2 km, starting from the Kigali BK Arena and finishing at the Kigali Convention Centre: they will tackle the Côte de Nyanza twice from two different sides. The first section measures 2.5 km at 5.8% while the second is 4.1 km at 3.1%, and finally the Côte de Kimihurura (1.3 km at 6.3%, with maximum peaks of 11%, entirely on pavé). The finish also looks uphill, concluding a decidedly demanding course.

THE FAVORITES. Let's start with Italy and our two girls: Soraya Paladin and Monica Trinca Colonel. The first, 32 years old from Treviso, riding for CANYON SRAM zondacrypto, is at her second participation after Innsbruck 2018 (tenth place). While Trinca Colonel from Valtellina (Liv AlUla Jayco), fresh from her triumph at the Tour de l'Ardeche in France, is making her first appearance. Realistically speaking, the two Azzurre have good cards to play for a top-ten finish, considering the podium should be a matter between Swiss champion Marlen Reussen (Movistar), American Chloe Dygert already world champion in 2019 and 2023 and third last year in Zurich behind Australian Brown and Demi Vollering. The Dutch rider from FDJ SUEZ is one of the great favorites along with her compatriot Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx Protime).

The list of contenders also rightfully includes Australian Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), French riders Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education EasyPost) and Juliette Labous (FDJ SUEZ), and Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma (CANYON SRAM zondacrypto).

STARTING LIST

10:22:30 44 NIRERE Xaveline 10063725344 RWA 15 APR 2002
10:25:00 43 AL-KUWARI Kholoud 10166678215 QAT 10 OCT 1989
10:27:30 42 WATANGO Serkalem 10092076121 ETH 16 JAN 2002
10:30:00 41 KIPLAGAT Monica 10133907167 KEN 18 APR 2000
10:32:30 40 KONO Lobopo 10142766200 BOT 11 JUL 2001
10:35:00 39 FROLOVA Natalia 10009721505 AIN 5 JUL 1997
10:37:30 38 ABDULLAH Jamila 10145546157 TAN 12 NOV 1992
10:40:00 37 TRINITAH Namukasa 10146114013 UGA 4 FEB 2002
10:42:30 36 POTAPOVA Faina 10009811734 KAZ 12 SEP 1996
10:45:00 35 TABU Kendra 10118418489 KEN 15 JUN 1997
10:47:30 34 AHOUISSOU Hermionne 10137582558 BEN 25 JAN 1998
10:50:00 33 PALADIN Soraya 10007524453 ITA 4 MAY 1993
10:52:30 32 ZHANG Hao 10146125834 CHN 10 JUN 2000
10:55:00 31 HASHIMI Yulduz 10120520056 AFG 8 JUL 2000
10:57:30 30 AL MARRI Lolwa 10130125480 QAT 28 SEP 1995
11:00:00 29 ABRHA Brhan 10086225304 ETH 20 FEB 1996
11:02:30 28 HAUGSET Sigrid Ytterhus 10117864276 NOR 1 MAR 1999
11:05:00 27 de MARIGNYLAGESSE Lucie 10119323320 MRI 10 JUL 2000
11:07:30 26 GOOSSENS Marthe 10064983920 BEL 4 MAY 2002
11:10:00 25 HALBWACHS Aurelie 10005663164 MRI 24 AUG 1986
11:12:30 24 BARIL Olivia 10015152390 CAN 10 OCT 1997
11:15:00 23 OSSIM Akpeiil 10087481048 KAZ 23 OCT 2002
11:17:30 22 CAMPBELL Teniel 10078996780 TTO 23 SEP 1997
11:20:00 21 van der BREGGEN Anna 10005972655 NED 18 APR 1990
11:22:30 20 NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna Anna 10008682490 POL 29 SEP 1994
11:25:00 19 KERBAOL Cedrine 10067688095 FRA 15 MAY 2001
11:27:30 18 TRINCA COLONEL Monica 10079161781 ITA 21 MAY 1999
11:30:00 17 EDWARDS Ruth 10007501518 USA 9 JUL 1993
11:32:30 16 INGABIRE Diane 10084616619 RWA 17 JUL 2001
11:35:00 15 JENČUŠOVA Nora 10046095996 SVK 14 APR 2002
11:37:30 14 LEUNG Wing Yee 10007771906 HKG 29 OCT 1996
11:40:00 13 BENITO PELLICER Mireia 10043139621 ESP 30 DEC 1996
11:42:30 12 PENUELA MARTINEZ Diana Carolina 10007589323 COL 8 SEP 1986
11:45:00 11 KIESENHOFER Anna 10092870309 AUT 14 FEB 1991
11:47:30 10 ŽIGART Urška 10009892869 SLO 4 DEC 1996
11:50:00 9 AALERUD Katrine 10015360134 NOR 4 DEC 1994
11:52:30 8 BIRIUKOVA Yuliia 10088433466 UKR 24 JAN 1998
11:55:00 7 REUSSER Marlen 10058433891 SUI 20 SEP 1991
11:57:30 6 CHAPMAN Brodie 10010616834 AUS 9 APR 1991
12:00:00 5 NIEDERMAIER Antonia 10108302201 GER 20 FEB 2003
12:02:30 4 LABOUS Juliette 10009749894 FRA 4 NOV 1998
12:05:00 3 HENDERSON Anna 10023769024 GBR 14 NOV 1998
12:07:30 2 DYGERT Chloe 10010971690 USA 1 JAN 1997
12:10:00 1 VOLLERING Demi 10015146633 NED 15 NOV 1996