"Against world-class riders like Pogacar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard, that's no easy task" - Dutch head to European Championships with hopes to disrupt

The World Championships are in everyone's mind at the time being but behind the scenes, the events that will take place the week after in Drôme-Ardeche are almost equally as important and we have decisions already being publicly confirmed. The Dutch national team for example will not have Mathieu van der Poel or Thymen Arensman at the start, and so it will look to disrupt the favouritism of the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard with an ambitious group of outsiders.

“It's a slightly less challenging course compared to the World Championship course in Rwanda, but it's still very difficult. The race will fly by; it's just over 200 kilometers," Moerenhout said in words to Wielerevue. "With a steep short climb, a longer climb in the northern part of the race, and an explosive urban course, there's plenty of challenge for both climbers and punchers. All in all, a beautiful and challenging course".

For the road race, designed for the climbers and puncheurs, will feature Daan Hoole, Dylan van Baarle, Mathijs Paasschens, Huub Artz, Menno Huising and Tibor del Grosso.

“The European Championships take place shortly after the World Championships, and commercial teams are also running their programs in the meantime, all suited to the same type of rider. As a result, the composition is different from the World Championships, with a mix of experienced riders and young talents that we want to get to know better for the future," he explains. "A great team, with opportunities to attack in the road race.”

It will be a different task, but the Dutch won't settle for just being part of the peloton in a national event. "You always start with the highest goal: winning. At the same time, it's also about making our mark as a team. Against world-class riders like Pogačar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard, that's no easy task, but that's precisely what makes the European Championships interesting. We'll have to race proactively and seize our opportunities."

The Netherlands will tackle the time-trial with van Baarle and Hoole, unlike the World Championships where Thymen Arensman will be the sole representative. The course will be mostly flat and Hoole specially, stage winner at the Giro d'Italia this year, can aim for a medal.

"Daan Hoole, two-time Dutch champion and recent winner of the Giro d'Italia time trial, has proven he can compete for podium finishes. Dylan van Baarle, second at the Dutch National Time Trial Championships, will also have the opportunity to demonstrate his time trial capabilities with renewed focus," Moerenhout concluded.