Belgian Cycling has announced its men's and women's representatives for the UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong next month, with Wout Van Aert (Yumbo Visma) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Works).

Van Aert is a strong contender for the rainbow jersey in the men's race, which will be held on a hilly 266.9 km course south of Sydney. He won silver at the 2020 World Championships in Imola, but the Belgian men have not won a road world title since Philippe Gilbert in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Belgian women have not won a road world title since Nicole van den Broeck in 1973. Kopecký, who won the Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders this year, hopes to change that on the 164.3 km women's course. [Current Vuelta a España leader Remco Evenpole (Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl) will lead the eight-man men's team. After last year's world championships, he and Van Aert had a public falling out, with Evenpoel going into an early breakaway, then suggesting he had the legs to win and missing the post-race debriefing.

Jasper Steiven (Trek-Segafredo) and Quinten Hermans (Intermarché Wantigover) were among the other notable riders, as were Stan DeWolf (AG2R Citroen) and Nathan Van Hooydonk (Jumbo Visma), The duo of Yves Lampert and Pieter Serry of Quick Step Alphavinille were also selected.

"It is clear that the team is completely dependent on Van Aert and Evenpoel," national coach Sven Vanhollenhout told Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab). 'Who can support them in the best possible way at the World Championships?'

"They are both on the same level," Van Hollenhout said of Van Aert and Even Paul. 'They are aware of it. If they want to be world champions, they will have to find each other anyway."

"They are both very good at what they do.

"But given their qualities, they are a perfect match for me. One is good at sprinting and the other is good at soloing. They know each other and each other's qualities very well.

La Flèche Wallonne champion Dylan Tuns (Israel Premier Tech) was disappointed not to be selected. The 30-year-old wrote on Twitter after the announcement of the squad, "I am very, very disappointed to have been omitted from the selection for Wollongong 2022. Good luck to the selected players."

Vanhollenhout said that leaving Teuns out was a difficult choice, adding that he considered him "inferior" to a player of Teuns' quality to be on the reserve list.

"Dylan is a fantastic rider and probably many other countries would love to have him on their teams. I said as much to Dylan. Clearly and specifically.

"I would have considered [a reserve spot] inferior to him. I would never put a rider with his qualities in the reserves."

Jasper Philippsen (Alpecin Deceuninck), Greg Van Avermaat (AG2R Citroen), Dries Van Gestel (Total Energy), and Louis Verweke (Quick Step Alphavinil) are on the reserve list for the men. The list includes.

Meanwhile, on the women's team, Kopecky will be joined in her bid for the rainbow jersey by the trio of Planteur Pla, Julie de Vilde, Julie Van de Velde, Justine Gecchiere, and Valerie Demy (Liv-Exstra) and Jesse Vandenbroucke (Le Corps-Wahoo) could be relied upon.

"The Tour was not a pleasant experience for her, but one that raised doubts," Vanthourenhout said of Kopecký. 'Fortunately, she won two gold medals on the track at the European Championships in Munich.' Fortunately, we had two gold medals at the European Championships in Munich, which is a good result.

"First I will compete in the Seratigit Challenge. Then we will know more. But we are not going to put pressure on her. "

Evenpoel is looking to improve on Belgium's record of three silver and two bronze medals from the last four World Championships time trials.The 22-year-old Evenpoel has a silver and a bronze medal to her name and has been selected to represent Belgium in the TT along with Lampère. Kopecky and Van de Velde make up the two-woman time trial team.

The mixed team relay will feature Hermans, Serry, Van Hooydonk, Demy, de Velde, and Vandenbroucke, and Belgium will be looking to improve on their 7th place finish in their home race in Bruges last year.

Elite men's road race

Ute van Aert, Remco Evenpool, Yasper Steiven, Quinten Hermans, Stan DeWolf, Nathan Van Hoydonk, Yves Lampert, Pieter Serry

Elite women's Road Race

Lotte Kopecky, Julie de Vilde, Julie van de Velde, Justin Gekiere, Valerie Demy Jesse Vandenbroucke

Elite Men's Time Trial

Remco Evenpole, Yves Lampert

Elite Women's Time Trial

Lotte Kopecky, Julie Van de Velde

Elite Mixed Team Relay

Quinten Hermans, Pieter Selley, Nathan Van Hooydonk, Valerie Demy, Julie de Velde Jesse Vandenbroucke

U23 Men's Road Race

Jenno Berkmoes, Vito Brahe, Dries de Pooter, Alec Segert, Fabio Vandenbosch, Renate Van Eatveld

U23 men's time trial

Alex Segert, Renate Van Eatveld

Junior men's road race

Duarte Malivoe Schollier, Maxence Place Jr. Men's Time Trial

Duarte Malivoe Scholliers, Jens Verbrugghe

Junior Women's Time Trial

Duarte Malivoe Scholliers, Jens Verbrugghe