Once again, the rainbow jersey was on display rather than worn. Movistar's Ivan Romeo took the win on the shores of Lake Zurich, and it is no wonder that the UCI is about to change the eligibility rules for this category.

Before Romeo, the champions were Seren Wehrenskjold, Johan Preiss-Peitelsen, and Lorenzo Milesi, who were already racing at the professional level when they won the under-23 world title. On the podium in Zurich were Continental rider Jacob Söderqvist (Sweden), bronze medalist Jan Kristen (Switzerland), and three UAE team members who competed with Isaac Del Toro (Mexico) and Antonio Morgado (Portugal). One of the Emirates riders went up.

Meanwhile, the pre-race favorite was Alec Segart (Belgium) of Lotto Destony, who, after winning the time trial in the Leniwy Tour, had to settle for fourth in Zurich. Other top-level riders were also in action on Monday, including Darren Lafferty (Ireland), who competed in the Vuelta a España from EF Education Easy Post, and Michael Leonard and AJ August of Ineos.

After opening the under-23 category to pro continental riders in 2005 and to WorldTour riders in 2017, the UCI is now trying to roll back those earlier amendments.The DirectVélo website announced last week that WorldTour and pro continental riders will be excluded from age-group events at the UCI Road World Championships next year, it reported.

Romeo was inevitably asked about the rule change as he passed through the mixed zone wearing the rainbow jersey. Romeo, a native of Valladolid, spent two seasons with Movistar. He has competed in races such as the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, but told reporters that he is basically still in his apprenticeship as a professional rider.

“It's a 23-and-under category, so of course it's debatable, but I'm only 21 myself,” Romeo said. It might be unfair to the Conti riders and the amateur riders I ride with, but if I can make it to the World Tour, I'll be there. But if we are going to be on the World Tour, it's because we are the best and we are still under 23. And we're still under 23. That's fine. That's the reality.”

Romeo shrugged off the idea of not being able to wear his newly acquired rainbow band in competition. Most junior world champions move up a category before wearing the rainbow jersey.

“It doesn't matter to me now,” Romeo said. 'This jersey will be in my room forever.'

Romeo, Spain's first world champion in the discipline since Iván Gutiérrez in 1999, joked about the rarity of his country's success against the clock, at least in the post-Indoline era. He smiled, “In Spain, they always go for the climbers, so it's never easy for the big guys.”

Romeo competes on the World Tour, but this season he had his sights set on the under-23 time trial as his overarching goal. He arrived in Zurich about 10 days before the competition and rented an apartment with his father for a series of training rides along the parcours.

“Renting an apartment in Zurich allowed me to scout the course and see all the corners multiple times,” he said. And when I finally saw what had happened, it was incredible.”

Silver medalist Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden), a member of the Lidl-Trek development team, would have been world champion on Monday in the absence of WorldTour athletes, but he offered a nuanced view of the thorny issue of qualification rules. He confessed that he was the best of the Continental and amateur athletes, but also enjoyed the opportunity to compare himself with the professional athletes on the World Tour.

“There are a lot of good opinions. Some say it should be a chance for amateurs to shine and win contracts.”

“But at the same time, I think the results will prove that pro riders want to sign up and race. For amateurs, it is a good comparison of how they and I match up. I myself don't have a very strong opinion. I am happy to compete with them and see how we match up.”

Söderqvist has faced some high-profile riders at a higher level in his first full season with UAE Team Emirates. Bronze medalist Jan Kristen's 2024 season included stage wins at the Giro dell'Appennino, Prueba Villafranca, and Giro d'Abruzzo, and a ninth place finish at the Clasica San Sebastian, which Marc Hirschi helped win.

“I'm happy enough with my first season as a pro, not many riders get three pro wins at age 20, so I'm happy,” said Kristen.

“This season I have amply proven that I am one of the best riders under the age of 23, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Kristen will be among the favorites to win Friday's under-23 road race. Romeo, on the other hand, has softly dismissed the notion that the under-23 world title is not that important for riders on the World Tour.

“I spent two years at Movistar and I just turned 21, so I think I'm still pretty young. 'Even here at the under-23 World Championships, this level is crazy. Today was one of my big goals for this season. I'm really happy to be here in good condition and to win the TT.

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