"It is a pity for Ilan that he has to do that" - Jose De Cauwer disagrees with Soudal Quick-Step's use of Ilan Van Wilder

Riding in support of compatriot and teammate Remco Evenepoel at that Volta a Catalunya, Ilan Van Wilder continued to impress. Jose De Cauwer however believes a domestique role is not the best way for Soudal - Quick-Step to develop the 22-year-old.

Speaking on the De Tribune podcast, the Sporza analyst questions whether Soudal - Quick-Step have the best plan in place for Van Wilder. "If Ilan were my son, I would have a little trouble seeing him subservient like that. That's great for a team leader, because you build a great team. But what are you doing for yourself?"

"It is a pity for Ilan that he has to do that. I think he is being pushed into a servant role too quickly," De Cauwer continues, drawing parallels with BORA-hansgrohe's treatment of their own young Belgian, Cian Uijtdebroeks. "They are very careful, sometimes a little too careful about giving chances to Uijtdebroeks. There is no pressure at all and that's nice. Can it sometimes go faster for me? I would say: if it goes faster, there is no reason to stop it, but we certainly don't have to push it."

"As a young person you have to test things up to a certain age. If you have done that, then you are not playing a servant, but you are. That's a big difference," he continues. "Serving with devotion is only a given when you have explored everything and when you know your place."