"He is completely out of touch with reality" - Philippe Gilbert blasts Tim Wellens for letting go of World Championships for UAE duties
CyclingWednesday, 16 September 2026 at 11:21
Tim Wellens is not racing the World Championships, after UAE Team Emirates - XRG have assigned him to race elsewhere during the same time period. Philippe Gilbert, compatriot and former teammate of Wellens, puts Wellens' reasoning into serious questioning.
Wellens claims the decision was made in early August, when he was physically in a bad position, which forced him to withdraw from the Renewi Tour. However only a few weeks later, he returned to the Tour of Britain, taking the overall win as UAE Team Emirates - XRG dominated the race.
A puncheur, with over a decade of experience racing at the highest level, and a former winner of the GP de Montréal, his selection would be as clear as day.
After Tadej Pogacar's confirmation of absence from the worlds, which could've opened up a door for Wellens to race the world - as he wouldn't be supporting Pogacar's main rival on paper - Evenepoel himself messaged Wellens. But it was to no success. "Those messages showed that Remco would have liked to have me on the team. That flattered my ego. But I am still sticking to my decision," Wellens previously said.
Wellens has been clear his decision is a professional one, not a personal one: “I know my decision is being criticised, but I certainly wouldn't have a problem riding for Remco or Wout. But my brand team remains my employer; they pay me. I have always been transparent and honest with Serge Pauwels."
The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider will be at the Cro Race at the time of the World Championships.
Tim Wellens will not race the 2026 World Championships
Philippe Gilbert highly critical of Tim Wellens
"I respect Tim, but I completely disagree with his reasoning and his position. I feel he is completely out of touch with reality," Philippe Gilbert said. Two riders that have shared a bus at Lotto, at the Belgian team and have raced together on many instances; but two riders with very different ways of seeing the same situation.
The former rainbow jersey Gilbert does not understand how the team's decisions have come before a World Championships call-up, specially for a rider who stands not only a shot at a medal; but is also part of what is perhaps the most highly considered team ahead of the race.
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"By the end of your career, you might have had several employers, but your country always remains your country," the former pro argued. Even the Pogacar argument wouldn't stand for Gilbert, who has raced against his own teammates in past World Championships, stating is is a regular situation in pro cycling, and that Belgium's interests should be above all others for such a race.
"During the World Championships I rode, my opponents were teammates from my trade team. Cadel Evans, for example. He became world champion in Mendrisio, where I finished sixth. Yet I gave my all for the Belgian team there. You do it for your country; that’s what counts."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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