"All other scenarios become too complicated" - Belgium World Championships tactics spark debate over Evenepoel and van Aert's plan
Cycling
Belgium have a conundrum on their hands when it comes to the World Championships road race, and it's not necessarily a negative. With favourite Remco Evenepoel backed up by a strong team, they hope Wout van Aert could be the ace up their sleeves.
With the Visma rider a danger to all the main contenders if he's deployed to attack, the role of both he and Evenepoel in the race has stirred significant debate as they look to deny other lead contenders such as Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro and Mathieu van der Poel among others in Montreal.
Analysts Thomas Dekker and Jim van den Berg broke down the different scenarios ahead of Belgium at the World Championships on the Live Slow, Ride Fast podcast.
With Evenepoel a marked man, Dekker thinks the use of Wout van Aert - whether as a sprint option or an attacking threat - could prove decisive.
"I don't think it will be that easy for them," Dekker said. "Evenepoel won in Australia by attacking from far out, but they aren't going to let him ride away again, are they?
"Van Aert admittedly rode a good Vuelta, but it is hard to say for him too. In sprints he gets beaten one time, while the next he competes in a mass sprint."
Evenepoel solo win in Montreal?
He sees an Evenepoel solo effort as the Belgian's best chance for a gold medal in Canada, and thinks that the Red Bull rider could use the climb and subsequent rolling terrain to his advantage.
"But you can sense in almost everything that it is going to fail. I think Remco will be given room to go until the last lap. Then he could arrive alone, which is of course a realistic scenario."
For van den Berg, control is the word. He backs Evenepoel to make a long range move, and if the race comes back together, use van Aert as an option in the finale. He also thinks the Visma rider could sacrifice his chances for Evenepoel if it becomes clear that the circuit is too difficult for him.
Van Aert's role in Belgium tactics
Van den Berg said: "It's quite simple: they need to take control. Evenepoel can make his move five laps from the end, and only in the final lap do they play the Van Aert card."
"All other scenarios become too complicated. Then you try to act smarter than the French and you overplay your hand. Then it becomes a s**tshow.
"Although it is also a scenario where Wout says after six laps that it isn't for him and he sacrifices himself for Evenepoel. The other way around, that won't happen."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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MarkFour06-11-2026 - As much as I admire and even revere Wout, the less I know about his backside the better.MidnightRider06-11-2026
- Ok, Walt 🤣... Vingegaard would be lucky to get on the poduim. He would not beat Seixas or Del Toro, let alone TP. Then there are the Americans...BD06-11-2026
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- Yeh, but he didn't and RE beat Pog & Del T 👍
leedorney06-11-2026 - Just my opinionleedorney06-11-2026
- Great win.However will the world champions jersey be simply a domestic for the season which will some what tarnish the jersey. I hope he is given free rein to try and win some races.paultryan200206-11-2026
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