Britain's Joe Blackmore stands out on the start list for Friday's UCI Road World Championships under-23 men's road race.

Blackmore will battle the same prodigious pro riders in perhaps the last opportunity for WorldTour and pro team riders to compete for the under-23 world title. Next year, the UCI is expected to restrict the under-23 race to amateur and continental team riders only, forcing young pro riders to race against elite riders.

The 21-year-olds from Sidcup in southern England are UAE Team Emirates' Jan Kristen, Isaac Del Toro, Jan Kristen, Antonio Morgado, and Italian Giulio Pellizzari, who will join Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe in 2025, Tim Thon Twittenberg of the Lidl-Trek stadium, Michael Leonard of Canada, and Andrew August of the United States (both with Ineos Grenadiers) will race.

Others include Ivan Romeo, the new under-23 time trial champion with Movistar, and his young Spanish teammate Pablo Torres with UAE team Emirates Gen Z.

The 173.6km race will be a battle of super talents, but Blackmore knows how to race smart and attack when needed.

“It's good to see World Tour athletes in the under-23 race. It's going to be a high-level race,” Blackmore told Cycling News Thursday afternoon while watching the chaotic junior race.

“It could get chaotic quickly, but hopefully it will be dry for most of the race. I think it will be important to be at the front. From what I've scouted, the corners are tight, so there will be a lot of acceleration. I'm looking forward to it."

Blackmore raced cyclocross and mountain bikes until his road racing talents rapidly blossomed in 2023. He then joined the Israeli Premier Tech development team for 2024, but his success at the Tour de Rwanda in the spring and other races quickly elevated him to the pro team in May.

The Tour de l'Avenir remained a goal, as did the under-23 world title. His professional career is about targeting hilly classics and week-long stage races.

“I didn't think I would develop as fast as I did this year,” Blackmore admitted.

“I started this year with the Israeli Continental team as an under 23 rider, so my plan was to compete as an U23 in GB for L'Avenir and the World Championships.

Blackmore spent the summer running the Baloise Belgian Tour and the Arctic Race in Norway with Israel Premier Tech before heading to the highlands to prepare for the Tour de L'Avenir. He won the prestigious French stage race with his skillful riding in the Sage, and then held off defeat by the even better climber Torres to take the overall win.

“I've been stepping it up race by race,” Blackmore explained.

“I built a solid endurance base and confidence over the winter. I also learned a lot from my teammates. I plan to keep it up."

”The pro-level racing has helped me to be in control in the pro races, but then the racing gets really hard. It adds depth."

Blackmore sees a young professional rival, and no doubt they will be watching him on the Zurich test circuit.

“There are a lot of riders to keep an eye on and it will be interesting to see who sets up early on. On the circuit, it will be hard to bring the break back,” Blackmore explained. [The Zurich circuit has a lot of places to attack and be attacked. We will also be looking out for Swiss Jan Kristen and the riders from Morgado, Del Toro, and Tour de l'Avenir.

Blackmore will be Britain's aggressive, hard racing option, while Matthew Brennan will be the team's beat sprint option.

“Matthew Brennan is one of the fastest riders in this race, but after a hard race, we'll take our chances with a small sprint.” [Unlimited access to all coverage of the 2024 UCI Road World Championships, including breaking news and analysis from local journalists, including junior, under-23 and elite time trial and road races. Details.