Belgian Biking named Serge Pauwels because the alternative for outgoing nationwide coach Sven Vanthourenhout on Wednesday.
The previous professional has been working because the Belgian federation’s junior nationwide workforce’s coach and as assistant to Vanthourenhout for the previous 4 years. He’ll take over managing the elite and under-23 groups, whereas Angelo De Clercq was named as coach for the nationwide cyclocross workforce and can take over from Pauwels as junior highway coach.
“I’m extraordinarily honoured to tackle this function, particularly now that we now have one of many strongest generations of Belgians ever,” Pauwels mentioned based on Sporza. “I wish to create a perfect atmosphere for each the riders and the employees in order that we are able to excel as a workforce.
“I’m additionally trying ahead to having the juniors I’ve labored with in latest seasons again within the workforce within the increased classes within the coming years in order that I can proceed to expertise their journey.”
Pauwels takes over from the massively profitable Vanthourenhout, who led the workforce to a few males’s elite world titles and two Olympic gold medals gained by Remco Evenepoel along with the 2 highway titles gained by Lotte Kopecky.
Belgian Biking’s chairman Tom Van Damme mentioned he needs the nation to keep up its degree of success within the coming years.
“We’re satisfied that we are able to maintain this with this new construction. There will definitely be no cutbacks in top-level sport inside our operations,” Van Damme mentioned.
The federation chosen Pauwels quite than former Classics star Philippe Gilbert, who expressed his curiosity within the place however complained on Instagram concerning the choice course of.
“I hoped to change into a nationwide highway biking coach, to share my expertise and fervour with the present era,” Gilbert wrote. “Nevertheless, the place was by no means opened up, and Belgian biking’s inside agreements prevented me from making use of. I would prefer to thank the various riders who confirmed their enthusiasm, and the numerous individuals who supported me.”
De Clercq has been working as a short lived nationwide coach following Vanthourenhout’s departure and feels comfy taking up the lead roles for the cyclocross and junior highway groups.
“We’ve seen lately that good cyclo-cross riders have developed into good highway cyclists. We want to keep the Belgian cyclo-cross tradition of the previous a long time and additional develop and enhance it,” De Clercq mentioned.
