Alec Segaert will be one of the two big favorites for the Belgian time trial championship in Binche next Thursday. In absence of Wout Van Aert and Remco Evenepoel, and with Yves Lampaert out due to injury, this will be a golden opportunity to put on the tricolor for riders like Segaert or Rune Herregodts - the two big favourites.
The Lotto Dstny rider devoted much of his preparation to be in best possible shape for the race: "I have been riding the time trial bike more towards the Baloise Belgium Tour and the Belgian Time Trial Championships, which are big goals. Then there will be extra hours on the time trial bike. Especially for the long time trial at the Belgian Championships, it is important that your position on the time trial bike feels comfortable. The more hours you spend in that position, the more you get used to it," he tells WielerFlits.
"There are a number of guys who see opportunity. I am among them. It could be a great battle, I think it could be exciting. Rune is in great shape, we already knew that after his win in the ZLM Tour. Now another nice third place. I hope it will be a fair fight for all of us."
Segaert knows what it is like to be on the podium of the national time trial championship, because a year ago in Herzele he was the one who came closest to Wout van Aert. "But that does not mean that I am now only satisfied with silver or more. You want to get the most out of it. You can't do much more than that about the results. It's not like you can make tactical mistakes."
The Belgian road championship will follow three days later in Zottegem. Segaert also made an impression in the road race a year ago. "It will be a difficult task to score again. I'm focusing on the time trial, and with good form I hope to also participate in the road race. Luck also plays a role in this and we have other weapons within the team."