How will Belgium's new national coach solve the Van Aert-Evenepoel puzzle? "Can't go to a race with five leaders"

Following the departure of Sven Vanthourenhout, Serge Pauwels is the new national coach of Belgian road cycling. The 41-year-old Belgian faces a tough challenge, owing to the great success of his predecessor. The former rider for teams like Dimension Data and Team Sky is gearing up for a baptism of fire in 2025 as he works hard to get his team on track.

Pauwels was recently in Spain to discuss ambitions and possibilities with his new group of riders. "Yesterday, in about an hour and a half, I was able to talk to Jasper Stuyven, Tim Declercq, Edward Theuns, and Thibau Nys," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "Someone like Theuns is less likely to be selected for the championships this year, but he played an important role in Tim Merlier’s European title. I also want to maintain good lines of communication, as good as possible, with all riders who have contributed to the team in recent years."

Among that group, Nys was a particularly important individual to speak with. "I had some questions for someone like him. What does he want? How does he see things in light of the upcoming cyclo-cross season? What is possible for the team? I don’t need definitive answers today, but they do need to start thinking about it for themselves. Then I can begin piecing together my puzzle."

"Let’s say that things are still maturing with Thibau. Normally, he will ride the Canadian races at the end of the year, and then he and the team will have to decide whether he also wants to do the World Championships and/or the European Championships. We’ll need to see how he performs on the road this year — he says the same himself. If he can take another step forward — say he wins something like the Flèche Wallonne — then he’s definitely one of the first riders to be considered for the championships."

Read more below the photo!

Nys, after a stellar year, remains a wild card for the Belgian team

"Wout should always aim for leadership or shadow leadership"

It goes without saying that Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are the two undisputed stars of the Belgian squad. They are expected to claim the victories, but the Soudal Quick-Step rider is currently dealing with a shoulder injury. The new national coach is optimistic about his recovery. "I spoke with Koen Pelgrim (Evenepoel's coach, ed.) this week, and he said it would just take a bit more time than they initially thought. I expect they have things under control, and that Remco will return to racing sometime in the spring."

And then there’s Van Aert, who remains an enigma. At Visma | Lease a Bike, he often takes on the role of a domestique. Is that also an option for the Belgian team? "At Visma | Lease a Bike, he occasionally does the work of a domestique, but in the national team, Wout should always aim for leadership or shadow leadership. He will have to decide for himself whether he wants to do the World Championships. After my reconnaissance in Rwanda, I’ll brief him, and then it’s up to him. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a course Wout can’t handle. If you see someone like Van der Poel taking the podium on a tough course in Zurich, Wout could have done the same."

What does Belgium plan to do about Pogacar?

"These days, there’s one other factor: Pogacar," Pauwels continues. "How can we make things as difficult as possible for him? That question is something I think about more than the course itself. It’s something everyone needs to think about." Beating Pogacar is tough, but not impossible. "In Zurich, he attacked 100 kilometers from the finish, and that was where we had the opportunity to beat him. Of course, he was by far the strongest man in the race, but we did see some decay towards the end. If we had someone like Van Aert there, the outcome might have been different."

Having two absolute leaders could backfire. "In my opinion, it’s still more of a blessing than a curse," says the national coach. "It’s certainly important to get them on the same page. Evenepoel and Van Aert also understand that they can complement each other. With Remco’s presence, Wout can race more defensively. This way, not all the pressure falls on one rider. Of course, you can’t go to a race with five leaders, because that makes it very difficult to establish a clear strategy."

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