The upcoming Tour de France might be the main topic of conversation in the cycling world at the moment, but straight after the biggest race on the calendar comes another huge target for many riders, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
One of those nations with arguably the biggest chance of claiming the gold medal in the men's elite road race will be Belgium, with two stars of the sport were already known to be competing in Paris, Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert. Now though, Belgian national coach, Sven Vanthourenhout has revealed the other two riders in the four man selection.
Joining the two standout gold medal contenders will be Lidl-Trek's Jasper Stuyven and van Aert's Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Tiesj Benoot. Given the immense strength in depth in Belgian there are also some notable absentees from the lineup, recently crowned Belgian national champion Arnaud De Lie, Jasper Philipsen and Thibau Nys spring to mind as much as any others.
As far as Evenepoel and van Aert go, the duo have struggled for fitness in recent months. Both saw their springs abruptly ended by crashes at the Itzulia Basque Country and Dwars door Vlaanderen respectively have seen both star riders suffer broken bones. Ahead of the Paris Olympics however, both Evenepoel and van Aert will be present at the 2024 Tour de France, although with differing goals.
For Evenepoel, on his Tour de France debut no less, the Soudal - Quick-Step leader have dreams of contending for the Maillot Jaune against the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and the man van Aert will be working in the service for, Jonas Vingegaard. Thanks in part to van Aert's help, the Dane has won the Tour de France for the last two years and time will tell if it can be made a hat trick this time around.
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