"If I am targeted, my two companions can benefit from it" - Evenepoel hopes Belgium can benefit from strength in numbers at the World Championships

Remco Evenepoel will be looking to defend and retain his Rainbow Jersey at the Glasgow World Championship on Sunday. The fact he will undoubtedly be one to watch is both a blessing and a curse however as he could be marked out of the race.

"We simply have an impressive team," Evenepoel says at a pre-race press conference. "Wout van Aert is always very strong, Jasper Philipsen won so many stages in the Tour. The boys in service are also very strong. You need a strong team here to stay well-grouped along the way. Last year we succeeded with two leaders. You can do that here too. If I am targeted, my two companions can benefit from it."

Having three incredibly realistic hopes for the win puts the Belgian in a very enviable position. They are the team to beat and as Evenepoel says himself, the plan of the other nations could be to try and cancel out the Belgians first and foremost.

"We want to win and it doesn't matter to me how we do that," Evenepoel declares. "I would also be scared if I were to ride for another country. If you beat the Belgians, you have a good chance of winning the race," he concludes with a warning.