Belgium using water bottle notes to get key messages to Evenepoel and van Aert? - "We might need to agree on a code language"
CyclingSunday, 27 September 2026 at 10:41
Belgium are working on an innovative way of ensuring their team is up to speed in the heat of the World Championships battle on Sunday, devising a strategy of using water bottles to pass key messages to riders on notes.
A rarely-seen strategy, the drastic need for passing messages to riders is a unique problem faced by national teams at major championships. Although riders race with radio and earpieces during races with their trade teams, their use is not allowed at the World Championships.
The rule makes for an unusual problem and race dynamic for many riders, not receiving live feedback from their team managers and sports directors behind them. With no information on breakaways or attacking moves during the race, added attention goes to monitoring race sace situations on the road.
Belgium tested out a plan to combat the lack of communication between riders and staff by testing out a system where notes are attached to bidons, with the strategy seemingly working well during the under-23 road race on Friday.
Wout van Aert ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Montreal
Pauwels on bidon notes
“We tested that with the U23s on Friday,” national team coach Serge Pauwels told Sporza.
“We work with boards like every year, but we also devised a different system with the water bottles. It’s not rocket science , you know. But almost every lap, almost every rider takes a bottle. And it worked well with the U23s.”
For Wout van Aert, the system is something he has seen before but never actually used. He pointed to the need for a code language to stop tactical information being salvaged by other teams as he reiterated his calls for race radio to be allowed at World Championships.
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Van Aert and Evenepoel on bottle notes
“Although I have never raced like this before. It will be new for me. I will be happy if it keeps me just a little more informed about the race conditions. I am not a fan of racing without earpieces. I have said that often.”
“I hadn’t thought about it yet, but then we might need to agree on a code language."
Meanwhile, Evenepoel likes the idea but sees challenges in making sure the right messages are handed out at the right time in Canada.
“If you miss a water bottle and there is an important message on it, then you haven't seen it. It still needs fine-tuning and maybe something needs to be shouted out as well. But it is certainly a pretty good idea.”
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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- Del Toro is one of my favourites, but when he won in Montreal he was supported by his trade team-mates, who had to calm his self-doubt. Don't know how he'll fare on his own.Hills3327-09-2026
- Lowkey this would actually be really cool @Rafionain-Glasanonymouscyclist27-09-2026
- So you put Remco in the last place...I think he should be higher up the scale. His daddy is already saying: "Remco will win. Pogačar should almost be happy he's injured, because Remco would win in any case."PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- OMG, how many records can be set in only one WC road race: Remco (double gold) or Del Toro (the only Mexican in history) or Seixas (the youngest ever) or... ??? All because of one cyclist, that didn't make it to the WC. The same cyclist that wins Montreal every year. The G.O.A.T. is injured... and some cyclists became lucky... they all got an early Christmas present from Pogi-Santa. The only one to admit that is Wout Van Aert... Remco would never admit it. You all know what Remco's daddy will say if Remco wins?: "Remco would have won the race, even if Tadej Pogačar was there."PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- My preferences in order based on my likeable scale. MVP.. he's a killer IDT Pidcock Paul S. WVE..seems to be good guy RemcoSantiago27-09-2026
- Oh really, Jonas was blasted by a former Danish cyclist? He deserves to be blasted.... Pogi's injuries were bigger and happened later than those of Jonas, but we can already see Pogi training on the road with a smile on his face. Where is Jonas??? I guess he's in his "rabbit hole"... with Trine digging it deeper and deeper. Please, never again compare Pogi to Jonas... NEVER !!! If all cyclists were like Jonas, no one would watch cycling. Having no heart, no passion, and no interest, describes Jonas in a state of emotional numbness, detachment, and an inability to care about or enjoy his bike racing. The passion cyclists like Pogi, Remco, MVdP, Van Aert, Pidcock, Del Toro, Seixas... etc. etc. have, is nowhere to be seen in Jonas. He races two to three races a year and that's it. Give me a break.PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- This time around Pogi's injuries were bigger and happened later than those of Jonas, but we can already see Pogi training on the road with a smile on his face. Where is Jonas??? I guess he's in his "rabbit hole"... with Trine digging it deeper and deeper. Please, never again compare Pogi to Jonas... NEVER !!! If all cyclists were like Jonas, no one would watch cycling. Having no heart, no passion, and no interest, describes Jonas in a state of emotional numbness, detachment, and an inability to care about or enjoy his bike and racing it. The passion cyclists like Pogi, Remco, MVdP, Van Aert, Pidcock, Del Toro, Seixas... etc. etc. have, is nowhere to be seen with Jonas. He races two to three races a year and that's it. Give me a break.PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- Non-pros are eligible to ride, it's the Worlds. Last place in the time trial was over 24 minutes slower than Evenepoel, averaging 33.8 km/h, and any serious-ish amateur in Britain can beat that
Rafionain-Glas27-09-2026 - The thing is that del Toro is nowhere as dominant as SaganRafionain-Glas27-09-2026
- And why would Kasia want all 4 together? If that was her goal, she could have helped ELB with the chase.Mistermaumau27-09-2026
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