Unprecedented World Championship: Never before had cycling raced the world title in Africa. Extremely tough World Championship: the Kigali course in Rwanda offers 5,475 meters of elevation, the highest ever. Conditioned World Championship: the fear of health precautions and extremely high travel costs are the main reasons for many withdrawals. Decimated World Championship: Vingegaard is not present, diverted to the European Championship, and Almeida, likewise, Van der Poel is focused on MTB worlds, and Van Aert is already in hibernation. Still a true World Championship: 267 kilometers, distributed across two circuits without a moment's pause. A course that certainly does not favor the home idol, Eritrean Bini Girmay, the first black African to win a classic and stages in Giro and Tour. Among the almost complete delegations is also Italy, which hasn't won the title for 17 years (Ballan, 2008) and hasn't been on the podium for six (Trentin, 2019). Here are the ten faces on which the rainbow jersey might appear.

Tadej Pogacar. Wins because he's the strongest around, because in one-day races this season he's always been on the podium, because the course's toughness favors him more than anyone. Doesn't win because the time trial is a mirror of form and the signals haven't been good.

Remco Evenepoel. Wins because he doesn't fear tough courses, because he's left behind the issues that conditioned him all year, because in the time trial he's shown he's at the top. Doesn't win because Pogacar risks being his most difficult mountain.

Giulio Ciccone. Wins because since mid-Vuelta he's focused on training, because in the first National in Villa he has a leadership role, because he performs better in one-day races than in grand tours. Doesn't win because he often wastes too much energy and the World Championship doesn't forgive.

Richard Carapaz. Wins because arriving under the radar in big events helps him, because this season he hasn't exhausted himself due to physical issues, because on tough courses he gives his best. Doesn't win because he's been away from races for a long time and might struggle to find his rhythm.

Isaac Del Toro. Wins because he's going through a great moment, because he's another who comes alive on climbs, because when it's time to win he fears no one. Doesn't win because he has no team and at 21 the risk of making mistakes due to inexperience is always around the corner.

Juan Ayuso. Wins because he has all the qualities to do so, because at the Vuelta he focused mainly on training, because there's no better opportunity to prove he's worth as much as Pogacar. Doesn't win because compared to the competition he lacks something in long races.

Jay Vine. Wins because he came out of the Vuelta polished, because the course is one that tempts him, because he enjoys maximum confidence from the Australian staff. Doesn't win because conquering a mountain stage when you're out of classification is one thing, challenging the best face to face is another.

Oscar Onley. Wins because the toughest courses don't worry him, because his fourth place at the Tour gave him the confidence to stay with the best, because in pre-world tests he looked in top form. Doesn't win because coexistence with Pidcock could condition him.

Julian Alaphilippe. Wins because rediscovering the feeling of victory gave him a nice boost, because in the World Championship experience counts and he has more than anyone, because when he has the right day he can still do damage. Doesn't win because compared to the new generation he has a shorter stride.

Mattias Skjelmose. Wins because he arrives at the World Championship in the right form, because he's another who loves the toughest races, because in the spring classics he was one of those who beat Pogacar. Doesn't win because he's not always ready to be at the front when it matters.