Van der Poel confirmed, also Van Aert hopes for European Championship selection; Lefevere gives opinion on Merlier/Philipsen issue

The men's road race of the European Cycling Championships will take place on Sunday, September 15. Mathieu van der Poel will be there in Belgian Limburg as a major champion, while rival Wout van Aert is also hoping for a place in the Belgian selection. He revealed this to Het Nieuwsblad.

"The European Championship is only a week after the end of the Vuelta a España, so I've been thinking about it," Van Aert told the Belgian daily newspaper shortly after his second stage win in the Spanish race. "I always like it when a championship is organized in my country."

"The national coach knows I always perform well in my country," Van Aert continued, referring to Sven Vanthourenhout, who he says has to make his most difficult choices ever. "So I have full confidence that I will be there."

Lefevere would take Philipsen and Merlier to the European cycling championships

The chances of a sprint in the streets of Hasselt seem high. Therefore, KNWU national team coach Koos Moerenhout also decided to take sprinter Olav Kooij to the upcoming European Championships. So, in Belgium, the question currently looms as to who should be played as (sprint) leader: Tim Merlier or Jasper Philipsen? "Or do you take them both anyway? I would go for the latter," Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere wrote in his weekly column in Het Nieuwsblad.

"Jasper won three stages in the Tour, but Tim didn't ride the Tour for reasons we all know," the flamboyant manager continued. "And he did win three stages in the Giro. Allow me to add to that: without lead-outs from Van der Poel. But I don't want to take anything away from Philipsen's merit. He is a superb rider who is having a good year. But I would find it a shame if Tim is not rewarded for his season."

Lefevere concluded with advice on how to avoid making any premature decisions regarding the Belgian selection. "I read that Sven wants to finalize his selection quickly, but in his place, I would wait for the Renewi Tour next week. Philipsen and Merlier are sprinting against each other there, but the European Championship selection should no longer depend on that. I know the riders themselves are not fans of it, but if I were the national coach, I would select Merlier and Philipsen. Now that Van der Poel is at the start, it certainly has to be conditional, but if it comes to a sprint in Limburg, they can both do their own thing."