"It cannot be any different" - Denmark will only race elite road races in Kigali

It has been known since last year that Denmark, among many other European powerhouse nations, would not use all of their available spots to field a team for World Championships in Rwanda. In addition to not sending a team for both junior and under-23 competitions, the Danmarks Cykle Union has now informed that the Scandinavian nation will not participate in time trials in the elite category either. Therefore we'll only see the red-white jerseys in the elite road races where Denmark still hopes to score.

"Of course, it is really a shame that we do not see ourselves in a position to start at the World Championships in the individual events," Denmark's elite manager Morten Bennekou said via the DCU.

"We see it as the right and necessary decision, due to the location of the World Championships on another continent. There is also the fact that the World Championships and the European Championships this year are in direct continuation of each other in terms of calendar - on two different continents."

Other countries that will travel with a reduced team are Netherlands, Belgium or Italy. With European Championships in Ardeche taking place only a week later, Denmark shift their focus to this race. In junior category, there'll be a good opportunity to succeed via the dominant leader of the FirstCycling junior ranking Noah Lindholm Moller Andersen. Contrary to his rivals, the 18-year-old will be fully rested after skipping the round-trip to Kigali.

"All in all, these circumstances have caused so many difficulties that we have chosen to focus 100 percent on the European Championships and then start in the way that makes sporting sense at the World Championships in Rwanda."

Denmark will therefore throw every last bit of their ambition to succeed in Kigali on the team around Jonas Vingegaard. The two-time Tour de France champion will make a World Championships debut in Rwanda, but shouldn't be underestimated. How serious is his bid will become clear at the upcoming Vuelta a Espana where Vingegaard starts as an outstanding favourite.

"As national coach, I am incredibly disappointed that we are not able to compete in one of two World Championship disciplines - it is the highlight of the year," said men's national coach Michael Mørkøv.

"But I also have to accept that this year cannot be any different. On the other hand, for the eighth year in a row, we have qualified as a nation for a full team of eight men in the elite road race. I am very much looking forward to competing with a strong team that can compete for the gold."