Sven Vanthourenhout doesn't want to put too much pressure at Remco Evenepoel: "Be gentle with him if he does not become world champion"
Cycling
Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout confirmed his selection for the World Championships in Zurich. Without Wout van Aert who called it after his crash at Vuelta, it's clear that all the attention will be at the double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel. However the coach doesn't want to put too much pressure on the 24-year-old rider.
"The incident with Van Aert changed something," Vanthourenhout explains at a press conference. "Even though Zurich was perhaps on the limit for him on paper. But with the Wout we saw at the Vuelta, he was ready to ride a good World Championship. But anyway: he is not there. In principle, that has not changed Evenepoel's leadership. But now you have a complete team in support. Although Van Gils can act as a shadow leader."
Evenepoel will not be accompanied by any Soudal - Quick-Step teammate: "In all the years that I have been national coach, we have always looked at such a situation with an open mind. It was about the strongest possible team. Which team they come from does not really matter. For me, it is important that everyone knows their role.”
It has been a lot for Evenepoel this season, Vanthourenhout also acknowledges. The two-time Olympic champion is fully rebuilding. "We hope that Remco will be okay, but we cannot ignore the fact that it has been a very difficult, but also special year for him. His focus is completely on the World Championship. He definitely wants to make something of it. We all know him: when he says that, he has that ambition. But I certainly also want to call on people to be lenient with him if he does not become world champion."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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