At the weekend, we asked who you think will win the men’s race at the Paris Olympic Test Event.
The results of the poll showed a clear favourite as Alex Yee came away with 42.0% of the vote. The winner of WTCS Abu Dhabi and WTCS Cagliari this year, Yee has been in red-hot form.
The next biggest portion of the vote went to “someone else” (20.3%). Among this category are the likes of Kristian Blummenfelt, Dorian Coninx and Vincent Luis, each previously a WTCS race winner. Moreover, Vasco Vilaca, Manoel Messias and Jelle Geens have all medalled in the Series this year and will have strong chances of winning in Paris. As a WTCS race winner, too, Geens will be one to watch.
Hayden Wilde then took the next biggest share of the votes with 18.9%. Wilde won WTCS Yokohama earlier in the year, his first win over the Olympic distance, and followed it up with a gold medal at WTCS Hamburg in which he beat Yee for the first time in the Series. Following his excellent form, Wilde has taken the lead in the Series and will wear number 1 in Paris.
One question mark over Wilde, though, will be his health. Having been sick at WTCS Sunderland, it remains to be seen whether he has fully shaken off the illness or if has been troubled by any lingering effects.
The world champion, Leo Bergere, claimed 14.0% of the vote. As the European champion from 2022, he combines the physical capability with the tactical smarts to take the win. Racing on home soil could also play in his favour.
Matthew Hauser and Pierre Le Corre, the winners of WTCS Montreal and WTCS Sunderland, rounded out the votes with shares of 2.8% and 2.0%, respectively.
As a result, Yee appears to be the clear favourite on the men’s side this week.
Check back tomorrow for the results of the women’s poll.
