"I'm a little scared of that" - Fresh tarmac on World Championship time-trial course worries Belgian coach

Belgium were unable to retain the Rainbow Jersey in the men's elite road race at the Glasgow World Championships. The individual time-trial though marks a second chance for the nation, although one particular section of the course is worrying the national coach.

"It is a course for pure time trialists," Sven Vanthourenhout tells Sporza, revealing that both Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert have been out and reconning already. "But not specifically on the course. Tomorrow morning the track will be made traffic-free for two hours and then it will be more efficient."

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As mentioned though, one certain part of the course is particularly worrisome for Vanthourenhout, a particular section of newly lain tarmac. "I'm a little scared of that," he says. "It was laid very late and there is always a little oil involved. I'm glad there aren't too many corners, but I would have preferred not to see that. We were here in May for reconnaissance. I would have preferred changes to the road surface to have been made by then."

Other than that section, the final rise of the course will be decisive he feels. "I think that last one and a half kilometres will be very important," Vanthourenhout concludes. "That climb is difficult and technically too. And there is a chance that it will rain on Friday. That would make it even more difficult. You have to have something left on that final slope. Whoever can push the most there will compete for the world title."

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