"My relationship with them is good" - New Belgian national coach excited to work with Wout van Aert & Remco Evenepoel

The Belgian national team enters a new era in 2025 as Serge Pauwels replaces Sven Vanthourenhout as national coach. Two of the riders the new man in charge is most excited to work with, are double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and Team Visma | Lease a Bike superstar, Wout van Aert.

"Most riders you select are leaders within their own team. In the national team, with that blue jersey, you suddenly have to coordinate them all. And... at the same time, let them connect with that new, young generation. Because they are of course drumming hard," Pauwels evaluates in conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws. "Of course you want to keep them sharp and ambitious. And give them their own chance from time to time. But the reality is that, as long as Remco keeps riding the roof off, they will have to be patient."

Given the former Team Sky, Dimension Data and Quick-Step rider Pauwels is relatively fresh out of the peloton himself, the 41-year-old Belgian is still in touch with the riders of the modern peloton and he's confident he can keep the positive energy around the men's national team going.

"My relationship with them is good. Four years ago I was still in the peloton myself, so I have raced with most of them - even Remco," Pauwels concludes. "And at the World Time Trial Championships in Leuven and Glasgow, Sven, Van Aert and I followed Evenepoel. I have heard both of them briefly this week. In January I will travel to the Calpe region, where we will see and speak to each other in more detail. At that time, their programs will be known and we can start looking ahead and planning."