Hinault excited for return to 1980 world championships route

French cycling legend Bernard Hinault is licking his lips at the prospect of current superstars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel tackling the same route at the 2027 world championships that he rode when he claimed his one and only rainbow jersey in 1980.

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SALLANCHES - French cycling legend Bernard Hinault is licking his lips at the prospect of current superstars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel tackling the same route at the 2027 world championships that he rode when he claimed his one and only rainbow jersey in 1980.

The five-time Tour de France champion, now 70, conquered the course, 20 laps of 13km, beginning and ending in the French commune of Sallanches and including the daunting 2.5km climb of Domancy, to finish over a minute ahead of the Italian Gianbattista Baronchelli.

"The fact that it is virtually the same route (as in 1980) means we will be able to compare the older generation with the present one," he said.