Illness strikes in Belgian World Championship camp; Remco Evenepoel loses key teammate ahead of Rainbow Jersey battle in Kigali

Belgium’s seemingly dream week at the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali has been dealt an untimely blow. Just a day after Remco Evenepoel stormed to a third consecutive world title in the individual time trial, the team has confirmed that veteran Tiesj Benoot will miss the road race through illness.

The news comes as a setback for a Belgian squad that had been riding a wave of optimism. Evenepoel’s destruction of the time trial field on Sunday – a performance capped by the surreal sight of him catching four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar on the road – reaffirmed his status as one of the men to beat in Rwanda. Ilan Van Wilder’s bronze medal further underlined the depth of Belgian talent, while the morale within Serge Pauwels’ camp appeared sky high.

Benoot’s withdrawal, however, leaves a gap in the Belgian strategy for the upcoming road race. The 31-year-old from Team Visma | Lease a Bike was the squad’s most experienced rider, having first competed at the Worlds a decade ago in Richmond and featuring in six editions since. Last summer he also played a pivotal support role for Evenepoel in the Olympic road race, where Belgium came away with gold.

In recent weeks his form had suggested he was sharpening up well for Kigali, finishing 16th in the GP Québec, seventh in the GP Montréal and animating the Super 8 Classic at the weekend. His absence strips Belgium of a seasoned engine capable of both riding selflessly and reading the rhythm of long championship races.

Replacing him is Louis Vervaeke, who arrives with credit after a strong Vuelta a Espana and carries the reputation of being one of Evenepoel’s most trusted lieutenants. He joins a line-up that also includes Xandro Meurisse, Quinten Hermans, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Van Wilder, Victor Campenaerts and Florian Vermeersch.

On paper, Belgium still commands one of the strongest squads in Kigali. Yet in a World Championships where tactical nuance often proves decisive, losing Benoot’s road craft and composure is no minor detail. For Evenepoel, the absence of his Olympic teammate makes the quest for the rainbow jersey a shade more complicated – even if his time trial demolition suggests he arrives in Rwanda with the form to shoulder the pressure alone.