Can Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert right the wrongs of 2021 at UCI Road World Championships?

Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel are the defending champions of the Leuven road world championships. They lost in the final to the team of André Greipel. Van Aerdt and Eveneppoels are co-captains of their team.

Belgium has the strongest team in the worlds peloton. Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert will race together next Sunday. They will try to win the race. They have learned from the misfire of 2021. Slovenia is going all-in with Tadej Pogačar and Matej Mohorič, and the home Aussie team is topped exclusively by Michael Matthews.

The race for the rainbow jersey next weekend will be shaped by the Mount Plesant climb. The final ascent comes just 10km from the line and will likely play kingmaker ahead of a reduced sprint or solo gallop.

Evenepoel is a changed rider from the tricky 21-year-old that threw a firework under the Belgian team with his long-range attack in Leuven. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl “wolfcub” rode beyond his age at this summer’s Vuelta to deliver emphatic and mature victory in his second-ever grand tour. Evenepeel will race the time trial Sunday in a ride that may ripple through to the road race one week later. Van Aert commands favorites‘ status for next Sunday's race.

Belgium's team is going to the UCI Road World Championships. Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are the favourites. They will be racing in front of home fans. Eveneepiel won the grand tour last weekend. Van AERT is second in the World Tour rankings.