"I read somewhere that I withdrew from nomination, but that is not true" - Widar left out of World Championships without a word
Cycling
Jarno Widar's debut Grand Tour came to a successful wrap. The 20-year-old showed much of his potential throughout the three weeks, including a second place in Andorra stage against the main GC contenders, and a 4th in breakaway one week later. That sweet victory was not meant for Widar just yet, but with it seems to be more of a matter of time when Widar gets to raise his hands in celebration during a Grand Tour stage. His next stop? Not the World Championships...
Gold medallist from last year's very challenging European Championships course in Ardeche, Widar has already proven that he has the necessary qualities to become a top-tier Classics rider in the future. However Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels prefers to postpone Widar's debut in elite races for when he is "more ready", leaving Widar out of his 2026 nomination for both races.
"I read somewhere that I withdrew from the World Championships, but that is not true," Widar clarifies in Het Nieuwsblad, clearing up a misunderstanding.
Poor communication
Widar himself believes ready to play an important role in the support crew of big favourite Remco Evenepoel, even deep into the race. "But it is the national coach who made the decision," he resigns himself to the matter.
The national coach had apparently told Widar during the Vuelta a Burgos (one month ago) that they would discuss the nomination during Vuelta, when the response of Widar's body to the three-week race is known, but Pauwels ultimately never reached out to Widar again, leaving the young rider in the dark.
Until the press finally brought the answers Widar hoped to hear first from Pauwels himself. "I eventually read in the press that he thought it was still a year too early, because 'positioning plays a big role' in Canada."
Widar found it a poor excuse. According to him, positioning is a matter of respect, and the Belgians will certainly receive that from the other countries with their leaders at the World Championships. "If I have to sit there, I will sit there."
Jarno Widar and Lars Craps crosses the line on Stage 14 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
The European Championships course in Slovenia might suit Widar even a little better, but the 20-year-old did not make the selection there either. "It was reported that I withdrew from both," he says.
Without either World Championships in Canada, nor European Championships in Slovenia on his agenda, Widar has the room to customize his schedule for the last part of this season, highlighting the Italian one-day races.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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