When you ask about the favorites in the men's race ahead of the 15th Marathon World Championships in cycling history, it doesn't stop at one, two or three names, it goes on. Last year's bronze medal winner, the Czech Kristian Hynek from Topeak-Ergon, puts it this way: "I think there are at least ten riders who can become world champion. Many have a chance on this course and you just need luck to be there when the right group goes."

The fact that the range of potential world champions is so wide is partly due to the fast course with its comparatively short climbs in the volcanic landscape of the Hegau. The riding time for the two 49-kilometer men's race is also comparatively short at an expected three and a half hours. This means that the race can hardly be decided by the distance. On the other hand, the title race is as strong as a marathon world championship has ever been. That sounds strange at first, because world championships should always be made up of the best of the best, but in this case there are specialists from two other disciplines mixed in with the marathon cracks.

From the cross-country camp come greats such as London Olympic champion Jaroslav Kulhavy, who was already marathon world champion in 2014 and also became European champion in this discipline in Singen in 2015. But also U23 world champion Sam Gaze from New Zealand, who held his own against two-time marathon world champion Alban Lakata in Singen last year until the final sprint. And he says confidently: "The marathon world championships are my biggest goal this year. I want to become world champion."

Cross-country specialists: Milatz, Fumic, Flückiger, ...

From Switzerland, Nicola Rohrbach and Lukas Flückiger are two regular cross-country riders at the start who also have what it takes to be among the front runners. From the Swiss marathon camp, Urs Huber should of course not be forgotten. The fact that, in addition to Moritz Milatz from Fribourg, who was runner-up in the long-distance world championships in 2012, Manuel Fumic from Kirchheim is also celebrating his world championship premiere in the long-distance race speaks volumes. He is using it as training and wants to support his Cannondale teammate Henrique Avancini from Brazil. He considers him to be a medal candidate. "I don't have any big ambitions, but I'm not just the domestique either," says Fumic. Who knows what will happen?

A flying Dutchman on the hunt for the title

The race is hardly predictable. The Italians are also sending a powerful squad into the race, for example Juri Ragnoli, who won the Sella Ronda Hero on Sunday with a lead of almost seven minutes over the Colombian Hector Paez. Then there is Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Corendon), who comes from another, different cycling discipline. Van der Poel was the youngest ever cyclo-cross world champion two years ago, finished second again at the world championships in January, but also comes with the recommendation of three road wins in recent weeks and a second place from the cross-country World Cup in Albstadt. He is skipping the road championships in the Netherlands for the world championships. "I believe that I can win the world championships," says van der Poel. And hardly anyone doubts that this is the case.

Little has been heard of defending champion Tiago Ferreira from Portugal in recent weeks, but his rival Alban Lakata believes he has what it takes on the Hegau course. "He can pedal big gears," says the Austrian, for whom the same applies. He has already won three times in Singen, so he knows what is important. His compatriot Daniel Geismayr (Centurion-Vaude) recently put in a strong performance at the Alpentour-Trophy. "I think the course could be something for me - if everything fits. It depends on so many factors that make it very difficult to correctly assess when it's a good time to get active so that you can be successful in the end. But I've done everything possible for it, especially training for this route," says the professional from Dornbirn.

Swiss riders according to the entry list

6 HUBER Urs
12 GADOMSKI Jeremy
24 ROHRBACH Nicola
44 FLUECKIGER Lukas
64 KAUFMANN Lukas
78 MORARD Eric
91 MONNIER Fabien
146 JUAN Yves-Alain
161 STUTZMANN Marc
171 ZAHNER Simon
175 JENNY Roger

Women: Don't break anything over your knee

As an observer, you almost want to breathe a sigh of relief when you look at the situation with the women. The group of potential world champions is a little easier to narrow down. Which is not to say that there is any unpredictability involved.

Defending champion Jolanda Neff was ill recently, but she sent out the signal at the beginning of the week: "Yes, I'm riding." And if the Swiss rider does, she will be one of the favorites. The reigning world number one in cross-country was only narrowly beaten by Sabine Spitz at the European Championships in Singen two years ago, without any preparation. She is certainly the most explosive in the starting field and could break up a leading group with an attack. Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa already traveled to Singen on Monday to prepare herself as perfectly as possible for the World Championships. The Norwegian has won the long-distance title no fewer than six times, most recently in Val Gardena in 2015. "I haven't been able to show what I'm capable of this season due to injuries and illness, but I still believe I'll have a good day at the World Championships," says the 44-year-old Dahle-Flesjaa. "It will be a special race because there are so many flat sections and it doesn't necessarily have to be the strongest racer who wins. I'm excited and it remains to be seen whether I can win my eleventh title or whether I'll have to wait for the mountains next year."

Sabine Spitz is without question one of the favorites. She was once world champion in the marathon (2009) and has won seven world championship medals in this discipline. But what makes her one of the favorites is, on the one hand, her ability to prepare for major events, as her three Olympic medals prove. And on the other hand, the form she has already shown this spring. At her second World Cup place in Nove Mesto, but also most recently at the Swiss Bike Cup in Gränichen, where she also came second. "I try to approach the start with composure and stay cool. You can't rush things on this course," says Spitz about her strategy. She considers one of her biggest rivals to be Denmark's Annika Langvad. She has already won the long-distance world title three times and is the reigning cross-country world champion. Last year, she probably only missed out on defending her title because she took the wrong turn while in the lead. Now that she has been able to call herself Dr. of Dentistry for a good week, she is free of any pressure on this side.

Former world champion Esther Süss should not be missing from the list either. When she won the title in St. Wendel in 2010, the terrain had a similar profile to the one in Singen. South African champion Robyn de Groot and Süss' Cape Epic partner Jennie Stenerhag from Sweden could also play a role. Last year's World Championship silver medallist and European champion Sally Bigham (GBR) will not be at the start.

Swiss riders according to the entry list

1 NEFF Jolanda 2016 World Champion
7 DARBELLAY Florence
15 LUETHI Ariane
30 LIARDET Barbara
35 METILLE Stephanie
46 WITTLIN Michele
65 SUSS Esther
71 MONTANI Katja
77 MING Andrea

Facts about the Marathon World Championships in Singen

It is only the third world championships in Germany after the 1995 Cross-Country and Downhill World Championships in Kirchzarten and the 2010 Marathon World Championships in St. Wendel. The Cross-Country World Championships will be held in Albstadt in 2020. Marathon World Championships have been held in mountain biking since 2003. The Hegau Bike Marathon in Singen hosted German Championships in 2008 and 2012 and European Championships in 2013 and 2015. The Hegau Bike Marathon also had its premiere in 2003.

The defending champions are Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) and Tiago Ferreira from Portugal. In 2016, British rider Sally Bigham and French rider Sabrina Enaux took silver and bronze in the women's race in Laissac, France. Austrian Alban Lakata and Czech Kristian Hynek came second and third in the men's race.

The women's course is over 80 kilometers. They first ride a 31-kilometer loop and then the 49-kilometer loop. In total, they have to conquer 2050 meters of altitude. The men ride 98 kilometers. They have to complete the 49 kilometers twice. This brings them to 2800 meters of altitude.

188 men and 77 women from a total of 38 different nations and from five continents have registered. This is a new record in the 14-year history of the Marathon World Championships.

Registration lists

The World Championship races will start at 10am (women) and 10:20am (men). On the Facebook page of the Hegau Bike Marathon you will be kept up to date on developments and split times. The finishes are expected at around 1.25 pm and 1.55 pm.

www.hegau-bike-marathon.de