Belgium announces star-studded World Championship squad as Evenepoel and Van Aert lead eight-man team
CyclingMonday, 07 September 2026 at 23:00
Belgium will head to the World Championships in Montréal with one of the most formidable line-ups in the elite men's road race. With Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert designated as the team's two leaders, national coach Serge Pauwels knows that managing their respective ambitions could be just as important as the strength of the riders around them.
The Belgian eight has now been confirmed, with Evenepoel and Van Aert joined by Tiesj Benoot, Maxim Van Gils, Thibau Nys, Quinten Hermans, Gianni Vermeersch and Alec Segaert. Belgium will also send Evenepoel, Rune Herregodts and Segaert into the elite men's time trial.
The tactical challenge has become even more interesting since Tadej Pogacar's withdrawal. Belgium has gone from having two potential leaders in a race where the Slovenian was expected to dictate much of the action to carrying the responsibility of being one of the principal favourites itself.
Pauwels accepts that change, but insists it will not force Belgium into controlling the race from start to finish.
Evenepoel is one of the main favourites to win the World Championships road race
Evenepoel and Van Aert will have clearly defined roles
Pauwels expects the race to require a different strategy than usual, as the riders will have no race radios to communicate with their staff during the World Championship road race. “The tactics will be complex, but I want to make them very clear to my leaders. At a World Championship, we don't have earpieces,” Pauwels explained.
The Belgian coach is therefore planning detailed discussions with both Evenepoel and Van Aert before the race. “We have two leaders who want to win, but it is also about the mandate they receive from me and the responsibility they have to take during the race. When can they attack and when do they have to wait? I want to make that very clear to them.”
That preparation will become even more important because Pogacar's absence has changed the tactical landscape. Pauwels had already started discussing the strategy with his riders, but the Slovenian's withdrawal forced him back to the drawing board.
He plans to hold the first major team meeting around 10 days before the World Championships. “I think it is important to do that beforehand and not wait until the eve of the race. Everyone needs to know their role.”
“I start from how they [Evenepoel and Van Aert] see an ideal scenario in which they can win. Then I try to find a good mix of their preferred scenarios. I put that into one plan and discuss it with the team.”
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Belgium accepts favourite status but will not control the entire race
The Belgian selection also contains several riders whose roles appear much more clearly defined. Thibau Nys, for example, has been rewarded for his strong form and his suitability to the Montréal circuit, but Pauwels does not see him as a third leader.
“Nys has a very strong weapon,” the coach said. “If the race explodes on the local circuits, he is capable of following the best riders in the world on Mont Royal. I believe very strongly in him and his form curve is going upwards,” Pauwels said. “But his role will be clearly in service of the team. There is no room for a third leader.”
Pogacar's absence, meanwhile, has fundamentally changed Belgium's position in the race. Pauwels admits that his team now has to accept the favourites' label.
“His absence changes the race. It makes a huge difference, but I certainly didn't do a jump for joy,” he said. “With Pogacar there, he determined how the race would unfold. Now we have the favourites' role and we cannot shy away from that.”
Yet Pauwels is equally clear that being favourite does not mean Belgium must spend the entire day controlling the peloton. “But that doesn't mean we have to carry the race for 270 kilometres. We have riders who can intelligently shape the race in our favour. Responsibility does not mean that we will stupidly ride at the front.”
Belgium's riders for Worlds
| Road race | Individual time trial |
| Remco Evenepoel | Remco Evenepoel |
| Wout van Aert | Alec Segaert |
| Tiesj Benoot | Rune Herregodts |
| Maxim Van Gils | |
| Thibau Nys | |
| Quinten Hermans | |
| Gianni Vermeersch | |
| Alec Segaert |
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- You need to rethink... your comment.JBBriggs08-09-2026
- Conversation ruined by an idiot. Goodbye.RolandDekker07-09-2026
- On holiday in Torremolinos.RolandDekker07-09-2026
- Show you facts ? Autists ? Skin and memories ? You have become boring and argumentative! Back under your quilt.RolandDekker07-09-2026
- Regarding the scandal, I think you’re confusing the WC with national champs where the federation can ban riders who don’t participate. If I remember right, Remco was in doubt for the Tour or something like that because of it but yes, in that case his license wouldn’t be valid and there’d be nothing his team could do about it to register him.Jumpyjohn07-09-2026
- Agreed, around a minute. He’s going to gave to find something to surprise others in the mountains.Jumpyjohn07-09-2026
- Please show us your facts temperature in Andalusia hasn’t changed in 35y because all I can find are ones that confirm that like most of Europe, they have risen more than the global average and are already comfortably settled above the 1,5 degree target and still trending upward. Sorry but I really don’t trust anybody except certain autists to have skin and memories sensitive enough to recall variations over such a period better than official scientific notations, which are abundant enough.Jumpyjohn07-09-2026
- So now answer us this, between riders and fans, who are they supposed to keep happy and how would YOU organise things to keep BOTH happy?Jumpyjohn07-09-2026
- 250km down the roadJumpyjohn07-09-2026
- So what are you complaining about? Some people have never had it on their doorsteps, some people never will. In fact, MOST people, and they have NO problems making huge detours or planning whole vacations around going to see a race. I would also reconsider the choice of wording, privilege is hardly applicable when anyone can, and many did, do it, unless you had the view sitting on your balcony. It’s a word that can come dangerously close to entitlement.Jumpyjohn07-09-2026
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