Belgian National coach Serge Pauwels spoke to Evenepoel about the World Championships, but Van Aert also has ambitions: ‘It's important they know that about each other.’

For Pauwels, this has been a delicate balancing act for years. Evenepoel was the clear designated leader for Belgium at the recent World Championships in Rwanda and Switzerland, but at Glasgow the situation was slightly less straightforward because he was the defending champion — even though the course suited Van Aert perfectly. In Canada, Pauwels expects another complex tactical equation.

Both riders look capable of a big result in Montréal, so Pauwels travelled to Spain to speak with them. “I was there for about three days because it’s very easy to speak with a lot of riders there,” he explained to Sporza. “And to take an initial pulse on their ambitions for this season, and in particular for the Worlds in Montréal.”

Evenepoel was one of those Pauwels met. “We went to have pancakes together. Klaas Lodewyck was there, as well as Remco’s soigneurs and mechanic. It was nice to have a chat like that.” Evenepoel was in Spain for a training camp with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and will begin his road season there.

Van Aert has already spoken openly about his ambitions for the 2026 World Championships. “That will certainly get a prominent place in my programme,” he said earlier in his preparations. This year he was 14th in the Grand Prix Québec, but he did not finish in Montréal. Back in 2022 he came second there, narrowly beaten by Tadej Pogačar.

That presents Pauwels with a strategic dilemma. “In general I try not to convince riders,” he said. “I think the first priority is to listen to what they want to do. And also to tell them what other riders want to do, because that’s obviously not unimportant. If Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel both have ambitions, then it’s important they know that about each other.”