"Belgium needs to get rid of those two leaders" - Nation told to rip-up Evenepoel and van Aert plan after World Championships
Cycling
Belgium have been told to drop any dual leadership plans for the future after the 2026 World Championships saw both Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert endure a tough day at the office. Boasting the pre-race favourite Evenepoel, the nation saw both riders fall out of contention in the final two hours of racing.
With Red bull rider Evenepoel admitting that he had poor legs, the rider's day saw himself often chasing the main group of favourites before finding himself behind when the road went uphill, leading to criticism of his performance.
"What he did wasn't necessary. When he rides in a group of six, he thinks everyone should do their job," Jim van den Berg said on the Live Slow, Ride Fast podcast.
"But that's not how cycling works. He is Remco Evenepoel. He shouldn't keep letting gaps open, because he does that really, really often. That is just very annoying."
Remco Evenepoel in action at the 2026 Montreal World Championships
Remco Evenepoel's World Championships performance
The analyst thinks that Evenepoel could have ridden a better race, and put himself on the front-foot: "He has absolutely no realisation that everyone has bad legs at the end. Or that he can simply ride for a podium finish with reasonably bad legs. That realisation never sinks in. He wasn't good on the climb and didn't have a good day either, but he needs to realise that he is Remco Evenepoel.
"He certainly has the energy to get annoyed. He didn't dig as deep relatively as when he's riding at the front alone, one hundred percent certain. He needs to be on top against the rest, because that's when things really move forward."
Van den Berg believes that the team need to go all-in on Evenepoel for the future, rather than a shared role with van Aert. David Dekker also agreed, believing that a team should be built around controlling a race for the time trial world champion.
Belgium's future plans for Evenepoel
"Belgium needs to get rid of those two leaders. Wout kept riding for too long during the World Championships, but with two Wouts, that works.
"But with Evenepoel as leader, you have to praise and glorify him months in advance. Then you have to go all-in on the Evenepoel strategy. Then he is capable of more than he showed today."
Dekker agreed: "Neither of them was good, which is partly due to Evenepoel's mental brain. I think his legs weren't that bad at all. It is interesting for the future, because in my view, you have to build an entire team around Evenepoel."
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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