After dream time trial, major setback for Evenepoel: Super domestique Benoot won’t support him in World Championship road race

Benoot is ill, according to the Belgian Cycling Federation. “Tiesj Benoot will not be able to participate in the Road World Championships in Kigali due to illness,” according to a press statement. Later, national coach Serge Pauwels announced to Het Laatste Nieuws that Benoot had contracted the coronavirus. This is a significant loss, as Benoot has shown excellent form in recent weeks, finishing fourth in the Clásica San Sebastián and seventh in the GP Montréal.

The 31-year-old all-rounder was set to be part of a very strong Belgian team, but with Benoot's withdrawal, they lost a key player. Of the last six world championships, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider has only missed one: in 2022, he was not in Wollongong when Evenepoel claimed the world title. Perhaps Benoot's absence is a good omen for the Belgian superstar...

Fortunately, the Belgian federation still has enough time to call up a replacement, who is a loyal domestique of Evenepoel. Louis Vervaeke will come to Rwanda to support his Soudal Quick-Step team leader. He recently rode an excellent Vuelta a España and was also part of the selection when Evenepoel won the Vuelta in 2022.

The remaining Belgian selection consists of Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates - XRG).

Benoot later responded to his withdrawal himself. "On Saturday, during the Super 8 Classic, I wasn't feeling great, but I thought it was a result of my last vaccine for this World Championship. On Sunday, I still wasn't feeling any better, so I decided to take a COVID test. I took three tests, and they were all positive. However, I don't feel sick and the symptoms are very mild, but I don't think it's wise or healthy to take any risks."

National coach Pauwels knows he will have to do without a loyal servant. “This is a disappointment, because Tiesj is someone who could have gone deep into the final. He specifically prepared for this during altitude training. It's very unfortunate for him and the team. He was also going to take on the role of road captain alongside Victor Campenaerts. It's no coincidence that he has already ridden in many World Championships with the pros. He quickly became a certainty in my selection.”

Because Benoot was in top form. "In the Montréal GP, I felt great and I had the feeling that I could ride a good World Championship in support of Remco. In Sunday's time trial, you could see that the altitude and humidity would make the road race a real ordeal, and with the altitude training and heat training, I was ready for such a tough race. Unfortunately, I will now have to watch the race on TV, which is a huge disappointment."