Montréal > Montréal 212km 17 laps of the very demanding circuit await the riders, this is one fewer than last year, but there’s still 4554m of climbing over 212km of racing. After testing his legs on Friday, all eyes will be on Pogačar as he looks to get ready for the world championships. 

Heusden-Zolder > Hasselt 223km The European road race is in Limburg and features a lap circuit which contains two sectors of cobbles, this lap is done three times. I wish it was a little bit harder. On paper, it looks like being a sprint.

Cesena > Cesenatico 195km The organisers have decided to use a new route this year, and I have to say, it’s not very Pantani-esque. Just under 2800m of climbing and the final climb crests with 50km to go, this is a race the fast men will be eyeing up. 

Québec > Québec 204km The 13th edition of this race, it’s just a baby. Early races were taken by attackers, but then we watched the evolution of the climbing sprinter, and it turned into one for the quick men, five out of the last six editions have ended in a bunch sprint. This year, I see fewer sprinters on the start list, maybe we’re due a win for an attacker.

Peccioli > Peccioli 197km Coppa Sabatini is a bat shit crazy race; it deserves a much stronger start list. Back in the old days, 2019 and before, you can be sure it was going to end in an uphill sprint, but then the organisers decided to make it much harder, it’s now a race for the wall climb specialists. There’s a lap circuit with 5 ascents of Muri de Peccioli and Montefoscoli, before a 6th ascent of Muri de Peccioli and then a final circuit with three ascents of the climb up to the line. 

Pontedera > Pontedera 183km The Italian Autumn races kicked off on Sunday with GP Industria & Artigianato, four more follow this week before a little break for the world championships. Last year, Pavel Sivakov took the win from Richard Carapaz, it gives an indication of the type of rider who can challenge.

Distrito Telefonica > Madrid 24.4km ITT The race doesn’t end with the usual procession in Madrid, this time it’s an individual time trial. 226m of climbing over a 24.4km route isn’t a lot, this is a good day for the TT specialists. If you’ve been keeping an eye on these guys, some have favoured an easy week, others couldn’t resist jumping in Thursday’s big break. They will go up against Roglič and see who’s got the best legs.

Villarcayo > Picón Blanco 172km The organisers have saved the best for last. This is the final road stage of the race, and it’s the Queen stage, thanks to 4727m of climbing and seven categorised climbs. The design of the stage is perfect, there’s almost zero kilometres of flat, it’s either climbing or descending. This is great news for GC riders who want to go long, it should make for brilliant viewing as the stage can explode at any point in the final 100km.

Logroño > Moncalvillo 173km If you’re a GC team, this is an easy stage to control and set up a potential stage win. Don’t worry about Saturday, that will take care of itself, this is your chance. I’m talking to Movistar and EF; this is a chance that has to be seized. Okay, you’ve still got to beat Roglič, but it’s a still a big chance to take an elusive win.

Vitoria Gasteiz > Maeztu-Parque Natural de Izki 179km The last chance for most of the bunch to take a stage win. The big climb of the day is a tough one, but it’s too far out for this to be a GC day, it’s another chance for the break to take the win. The riders who aren’t the best climbers have a chance, which is more than they have for the rest of the race.