21-year-old Jake Stewart will compete in his first elite world championships in Belgium on Sunday as part of a British team that will be looking for its first rainbow jersey since Mark Cavendish won it in Copenhagen in 2011.

The eight-man team has options for road racing, but the greatest expectations are on Olympic champion Tom Pidcock.

Pidcock has not raced since completing his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España, and British national coach Matt Brammeier expressed doubts last week about the Ineos' current form. For Stewart, Pidcock is still a strong contender for a major result, but the Groupama-FDJ rider also agreed with Brammeier when he explained that the British team could be more than a one-man team.

"It's one of the best teams in recent years at the World Championships, with a mix of youngsters and veterans, especially in parcours this year," Stewart told Cycling News.

"In a race like the World Championships, with no race radio and a Flemish-style course, there is always something unpredictable. When push comes to shove, there are plenty of options."

"As Matt said, I'm not sure where Tom is after the Vuelta. If you look at Hayter in the Tour of Britain, Fred Wright in the Benelux Tour, and Conor Swift who is doing well, we have a lot of good riders who can do the job. So we have a lot of options going into the race. Flanders is unpredictable, so we're going to keep our cards pretty open."

"Everyone knows what Pidcock is capable of. He's good under pressure, it's the biggest race of the year and Tom will do well."

Stewart had a breakout spring campaign with a great spring campaign that included a 2nd in the Omloop and a 6th in the Danilis Nokele Coors. He has turned his attention to supporting teammates such as Stefan Kung and Arnaud Demare in recent weeks, but is in good shape for Sunday's race.

"I'm in pretty good shape and I feel the same as I did in the spring. I just haven't had the opportunity to show it in a big way in the last few weeks," he explained. [For example, I was in good shape at the Benelux Tour, but it was to support Stefan Kung. So I couldn't run for results to support Stéphane's position. I am confident in my form right now and the Garmin numbers don't lie. I've been feeling good the last few weeks. I can go into the World Championships in the best shape I can be in and it's a race where I can peak."

Stewart, who has raced in British colors at both the junior and U23 levels of the World Championships, is now at the top of the elite ranks of racing.

The British team has built up from their experience in Imola last year, almost as a dress rehearsal, with Pidcock at the helm; 12 months on, the team's young riders are growing and improving, and the team is now in a position to compete at the top of the world championships.

Talking to Stewart and Brammeier, the team seems ready for a solid challenge.

"This is my first Elite World Championship. I talked to Fred Wright the other day, and the two of us and Tom have competed in World Championships together before," Stewart explained.

"It's fitting that it's my and Fred's first Elite World Championships, starting with juniors and U23s. It's going to be a special competition, and looking at the team, it's probably one of the best chances we've had to medal in years."

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"Everyone will be very motivated, but on a personal level I will be working for the athletes to the best of my ability. My first Elite World Championships will be a big learning curve for me, but with Cavendish, Lowe and Swift, I can learn a lot from them."

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