Remco Evenepoel will lead an eight-rider group representing Belgium on the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, beginning September 21 in Zurich.
While Evenepoel has been designated because the group’s chief, Maxim Van Gils might additionally fill a second management position throughout the elite males’s 273.9km highway race on September 29, the ultimate day of competitors.
The group additionally consists of Victor Campenaerts, Tim Wellens, Jasper Stuyven, Tiesj Benoot, Quinten Hermans and Laurens De Plus.
“The whole group will experience in help of Remco,” nationwide Team Coach Sven Vanthourenhout informed Sporza.
Absent from the group is Wout van Aert, who crashed closely on a descent throughout stage 16 on the Vuelta a España and was pressured to desert the race. His Visma-Lease a Bike group later introduced that he wouldn’t compete for the rest of the season.
Evenepoel described Van Aert’s season-ending damage as “a giant loss” for Belgium forward of the Worlds.
Evenepoel may also compete within the particular person time trial, together with Campanaerts, which takes place on September 22.
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He heads into this occasion after ending third total on the Tour de France and was newly-crowned because the double Olympic champion within the highway race and time trial in Paris. He is a favorite to defend his world title within the time trial, an occasion he received in Glasgow final yr, and is likely one of the favourites to win the highway race for the second time in his profession after profitable in Wollongong in 2022.
“We actually loved his performances throughout the Tour and the Games,” stated Vanthourenhout, noting that Evenepoel would skip the UEC Road European Championships held from September 11-15 to arrange for the Worlds.
“It’s a disgrace for the general public that he isn’t on the European Championships, however it’s a blessing for the World Championships.”
Vanthourenhout additionally stated Evenepoel was motivated forward of his management position for the World Championships, however that the biking neighborhood should not be too onerous on him if he does not win a world title in Zurich.
“Remco will do every part he can to appreciate his ambitions. But let’s be lenient if he does not succeed. He all the time throws himself 100 per cent, so let’s help him. But let’s not be too strict if it does not work out,” he stated.
After the Tour de France and the Olympic Games, the World Championships would mark a 3rd consecutive peak for Evenepoel, however Vanthourenhout aimed to maintain expectations reasonable, noting that his rider has had a demanding and profitable season.
“We’ll need to see about that,” he stated. “He’s working onerous and needs to make one thing of the Worlds: then you definately’ve been warned. But it was additionally a troublesome and particular yr. I anticipate an excellent Remco, however we should not begin taking it with no consideration.”
Elite males’s highway race group for Belgium:
- Remco Evenepoel
- Victor Campenaerts
- Tim Wellens
- Jasper Stuyven
- Tiesj Benoot
- Quinten Hermans
- Maxim Van Gils
- Laurens De Plus
Elite males’s particular person time trial for Belgium:
- Remco Evenepoel
- Victor Campenaerts