The Belgian Time Trial Championships in Binche cannot count on defending champion Wout van Aert and world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel next Thursday. The two are racing against the time in different meaning of the words as they're chasing the time lost in crashes of early April.
It had been known for some time that Remco Evenepoel would not be present in Binche. The world champion against the clock stayed in Alps after the Critérium du Dauphiné for a final altitude training camp towards the Tour. Evenepoel will explore a few Tour stages there and will only return just before the Belgian Road Championships.
Wout van Aert had the National championship time trial on his schedule for a long time. But his tumble in Dwars door Vlaanderen caused him to completely rebuild his calendar for summer, prioritizing Tour de France in his preparation. Just like his compatriot Evenepoel, also Van Aert only travels to Belgium for the road race.
This opens up an opportunity for another rider to wear the yellow-red-black stripes for next twelve months. The two-time champion Yves Lampaert (2017 and 2021) is not in the best form of his life, but in absence of Van Aert and Evenepoel, he's the big favourite.
The main threat for the Soudal - Quick-Step will be two young guns Rune Herregodts and Alec Segaert. Herregodts has been riding around in a great form these last few weeks, winning time trial and overall at ZLM Tour. Additionally he came third at the opening time trial of Baloise Belgium Tour. Segaert is two-time European U23 champion against the clock and runner-up from last years NC. The 21-year-old hasn't been riding around with his best legs lately, but 5th place in the Baloise Belgium Tour time trial also gives a lot of confidence for the Lotto Dstny rider.
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