Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert torn apart by the Belgian media: 'Biggest disappointment of the decade'
CyclingMonday, 28 September 2026 at 21:03
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Follow us on GoogleWith sky-high expectations—and even higher pressure—the Belgian team headed to Montreal. For the Belgians, only one thing mattered: the rainbow jersey. But when it came down to it, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel simply weren’t quite good enough to contend for the world title in Canada. And that has earned them a fair amount of criticism.
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The Belgian media have been harsh. La Dernière Heure is still somewhat lenient. “The Belgian team, which was considered the clear favourite at the World Championships in Montreal, failed to live up to expectations but made no excuses,” the Walloon publication reports. “The magnitude of a disappointment is often proportional to the height of expectations. The dream team was American.”
Het Nieuwsblad did emphasise, however, that it had been a fantastic World Championship. “With 50 kilometers to go, it was clear that Eddy Merckx would have no Belgian successor in Montreal. The Belgians simply didn’t play the role they thought they would. Others were just better—that’s all. Although we saw a fantastic race, it still leaves a bitter aftertaste.”
The Flemish also know that the public’s expectations may have been a bit too high: after all, there was plenty of competition. “You never become world champion just like that, but we had expected more from the Belgian team. Van Aert and Evenepoel both gave it their all, but didn’t stand a chance at the world title. And that’s hard to accept.”
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Belgians fall short: 'the biggest disappointment of the decade'
Het Laatste Nieuws takes a much harsher stance. “The Belgians were there just for show. With 65 kilometers to go, Wout van Aert’s world championship hopes were already over. Five kilometers later, Remco Evenepoel also had to throw in the towel when Paul Seixas and Isaac Del Toro dropped him for the first time on the climb. The overwhelming favourite struggled through the rest of the day, and after that, the Belgians just had to ride for a pittance.”
José De Cauwer had previously criticized the Belgians as well, though he didn’t think it was a complete failure. But Evenepoel, in particular, was a disappointment. “The course didn’t lie. A strong Remco with good legs can handle that. But at a certain point, it became clear that it was going to be tough when he was lagging behind in the chasing group.”
But the harshest criticism came from the French-speaking part of the country. Sudinfo later called it “the biggest disappointment in cycling this year, perhaps even of the decade. Belgium is used to playing a major role in every edition, which has never been the case in Montreal.”
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- So no Eddy Merckx successor again—how long has Belgium actually waited for a Worlds road title? And what does “rainbow jersey” mean exactly? Is it only for one race or the whole season?michael5428-09-2026
- Not buying the “clear favourite” tag. On paper, yes, but the field was stacked. If Remco had the legs we’d have seen him bridge on the penultimate lap. No excuses—just not their day. Still proud. Allez les Belges… pero hoy no fue.sprocketspiny28-09-2026
- Bit harsh from HLN. Van Aert was clearly off after 65k to go, but that doesn’t make them “there for show.” Conditions + course attrition + rivals peaking—sometimes others are just better. Happens. Chapeau to the Americans.jeremya28-09-2026
- Are Paul Seixas and Del Toro usually this strong on longer climbs, or was the Montreal circuit just suiting punchers more than pure classics guys? Also, why didn’t Belgium send someone up the road earlier?samanthak28-09-2026
- Great read. Tactics were too passive once the splits formed. When Seixas and Del Toro punched it on the Côte, Remco needed a teammate to pace back—Belgium waited and the gap became terminal. Still, sensational Worlds overall.bikebuffj28-09-2026
- - Congrats Brandon! Pero siento que Isaac tenía piernas para podio, solo mala colocación en el último kilómetro. Qué carrerón, ¡vamos México!samanthak28-09-2026
- - Fair play to McNulty, massive engine and timed it perfectly, but the article is a bit harsh on Del Toro. He was isolated for the last 30k and still covered dangerous counters. Saying he was “supporting” feels like a reach.pedalpowe2928-09-2026
- - Can someone explain: are riders allowed to work together if they’re from the same pro team but different national teams? Is that normal at Worlds or kind of frowned upon?bikebuffj28-09-2026
- - Not sure I buy Pidcock’s take. Worlds is nations, yeah, but if Del Toro had chased Brandon he’d have handed the sprint to Pedersen/Bettiol. He marked moves all day and just lost wheels before the final kick. Positioning, not intent, cost him.raceready728-09-2026
- - Brilliant race analysis. Del Toro emptied the tank with those late digs on Camillien-Houde, but once McNulty launched, the elastic snapped. Fifth isn’t what he wanted, but tactically he couldn’t chase a trade teammate without dragging the group. Tough spot for Mexico with such a small squad.gearguru3328-09-2026
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