Remco Evenepoel will lead an eight-rider staff representing Belgium on the upcoming UCI Highway World Championships, beginning September 21 in Zurich.
Whereas Evenepoel has been designated because the staff’s chief, Maxim Van Gils may additionally fill a second management position throughout the elite males’s 273.9km street race on September 29, the ultimate day of competitors.
The staff additionally consists of Victor Campenaerts, Tim Wellens, Jasper Stuyven, Tiesj Benoot, Quinten Hermans and Laurens De Plus.
“The whole staff will trip in help of Remco,” nationwide Staff Coach Sven Vanthourenhout informed Sporza.
Absent from the staff is Wout van Aert, who crashed closely on a descent throughout stage 16 on the Vuelta a España and was compelled to desert the race. His Visma-Lease a Bike staff later introduced that he wouldn’t compete for the rest of the season.
Evenepoel described Van Aert’s season-ending harm as “an enormous loss” for Belgium forward of the Worlds.
Evenepoel will even 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 general on the Tour de France and was newly-crowned because the double Olympic champion within the street race and time trial in Paris. He’s a favorite to defend his world title within the time trial, an occasion he received in Glasgow final 12 months, and is likely one of the favourites to win the street race for the second time in his profession after successful in Wollongong in 2022.
“We actually loved his performances throughout the Tour and the Video games,” mentioned Vanthourenhout, noting that Evenepoel would skip the UEC Highway European Championships held from September 11-15 to arrange for the Worlds.
“It is a disgrace for the general public that he is not on the European Championships, but it surely’s a blessing for the World Championships.”
Vanthourenhout additionally mentioned Evenepoel was motivated forward of his management position for the World Championships, however that the biking neighborhood should not be too arduous on him if he would not win a world title in Zurich.
“Remco will do every thing he can to appreciate his ambitions. However let’s be lenient if he would not succeed. He at all times throws himself 100 per cent, so let’s help him. However let’s not be too strict if it would not work out,” he mentioned.
After the Tour de France and the Olympic Video games, the World Championships would mark a 3rd consecutive peak for Evenepoel, however Vanthourenhout aimed to maintain expectations life like, noting that his rider has had a demanding and profitable season.
“We’ll should see about that,” he mentioned. “He is working arduous and desires to make one thing of the Worlds: you then’ve been warned. But it surely was additionally a tricky and particular 12 months. I anticipate an excellent Remco, however we should not begin taking it as a right.”
Elite males’s street race staff 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
