Mathieu van der Poel to test World Championship legs as he returns at GP de Wallonie

The World Championships will be having Mathieu van der Poel as one of the big favourites, and the Dutchman has an urgent need to show great form this week in Belgium as he sets off for Australia soon.

Van der Poel will be leading the team at the GP de Wallonie this Wednesday, a hilly race set to finish atop the Citadelle de Namur. The hilltop finale will suit him very well, and this may be the Dutchman's final step before the World Championships which are set to take place in week and a half's time.

He has since the Tour de France taken a lengthy recovery period before returning to competition at the Druivenkoers-Overijse last month. He's not had a busy schedule however, prioritizing training, and will be testing his legs today in Wallonie. Alpecin-Deceuninck will perhaps be the team to beat as they present Jasper Philipsen, Dries de Bondt, Stefano Oldani and Xandro Meurisse who are all legitimate candidates for a top position. Scott Thwaites and Ayco Bastiaens complete the lineup.

Alpecin-Deceuninck for GP de Wallonie: Mathieu van der Poel, Ayco Bastiaens, Dries de Bondt, Xandro Meurisse, Stefano Oldani, Jasper Philipsen and Scott Thwaites.