"Remco was surprised and a bit taken aback" - Loss of key domestique could spell disaster for Evenepoel at Rwanda worlds

267 kilometers of racing with climbing from start to finish in the altitude and heat is not something that many riders will be able to handle well, and perhaps out of the entire peloton Tiesj Benoot would be one of those that could do so the best taking into consideration his history. The Belgian was key to Remco Evenepoel's chances at the Kigali World Championships road race, and the winner of the time-trial was taken aback by the bad news that hit the team.

Team national coach Serge Pauwels talked to VTM Nieuws this Tuesday morning and could not hide that it changes the team's outlook and plans into this Sunday's race. "This is a disappointment. Because Tiesj is someone who could go deep into the final".

Benoot, although having spent the last few years mostly working as a domestique for Visma, has in his palmarès many strong results and also victories in the classics, both those for the climbers and cobbled classics specialists - both key factors for the difficult Rwandan course.

In recent weeks, the 31-year old finished fourth at the Clásica San Sebastián and seventh at the GP de Québec; besides having finished in the Top10 of the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race and Dwars door Vlaanderen (he was not the leader nor best placed Visma rider in neither, ed.). "He's already proven that, and he specifically prepared for that during the altitude training camp. It's incredibly unfortunate for him and the team."

With the absence of Wout van Aert and now another Visma rider, it certainly does make things more difficult for Belgium to put pressure on Slovenian, or match the attacks of other national teams. "Tiesj was also going to be given the role of road captain, along with Victor Campenaerts. It's not insurmountable to give that role to Victor and share it. But Tiesj has already ridden in many World Championships as a professional for a reason. He quickly became a certainty in my selection. Remco was surprised and a bit taken aback," Pauwels reveals. 

This will limit the abilities of the team, and make it a more one-faced approach with Evenepoel as the sole leader at the same time. A tough hit and one that is irreplaceable. "He could certainly rely on Tiesj, but it's not like we have to start with one rider less. Louis [Vervaeke] is going to do really well too. He was in great form. Two weeks ago, Louis was very disappointed not to be part of the team, but I told him then: stay ready, because you never know. It's a bit of a mixed bag, of course. He's also good friends with Tiesj, and you wouldn't wish that on anyone. But he's finished, and that's the most important thing. He's a very worthy replacement."