Wout van Aert to Skip Worlds TT, Focusing on Road Race

Wout van Aert, our premature pick for rider of the season, will not ride the World Championships Time-Trial in Wollongong, Australia next month.

The Belgian finished second in the past two editions of the Worlds TT, but now wants to focus solely on the Road Race. Which makes sense. After all, last’s year’s Tour de France time-trial, Ventoux, and Champs Elysees winner is famous for sticking to one discipline.

The news is not strictly a surprise, since he’d hinted at it earlier in the year and stated his final answer would come after the Tour de France. Nevertheless, this year’s course suits him well and may have been a more likely gold medal than the road race. Cruel suggestions that his back-to-back silver medals have been playing on his mind are entirely unfounded originating directly from his coach.

Van Aert now takes a break before returning for four smaller races at the end of August and into early September.

San Sebastian winner Remco Evenepoel will take Van Aert’s position as primo Belgian hopeful. He is no stranger to the discipline, with silver and bronze medals in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Get ready for the Remco hype machine to really kick up over the next six weeks or so.

Tour de France Stage One winner Yves Lampaert and Hour Record holder Victor Campenaerts are other Belgian time-trialling options.