Although the World Championship in Rwanda is more suited to climbers, Belgian national team coach Serge Pauwels hopes to be able to count on Wout van Aert, despite Visma - Lease a Bike's doubts about participating in a World Championship that might not offer him titles.

Unlike other nations, including Italy, which will send reduced national teams, Belgium has officially announced that they will participate in Rwanda with full teams and Pauwels is looking at and analyzing the work of all potential riders to be selected.

"This is good news for our young riders, but also for us as a team," Pauwels explained during a press conference with Belgian media. "With this decision, we will be able to make important progress in preparing for this event, as we have recently been somewhat limited by numerical issues."

The Belgian federation has given consent to bring full teams, including male and female youth teams, but in reality an obstacle could come from World Tour teams, who do not view races in Rwanda favorably. This is the case with Visma-Lease a Bike, where team manager Richard Plugge has raised some questions: what could be the advantage for his riders, who have nothing to gain from such a difficult course? Beyond this aspect, doubts have also fallen on vaccination prophylaxis.

"I have heard about these issues even with the Under 21 team," Serge Pauwels continued. "Honestly, I see no difference between this World Championship in Rwanda and another in Australia, with a long trip and a different time zone. Here, yes, there is vaccination against yellow fever, but it's not the same as the Covid vaccine."

The former professional cyclist and now Belgian coach would like to include Wout van Aert in the team, who, even though the course is not suitable for his characteristics, could play an important role in the team, as happened at the Giro d'Italia and in the past at the Tour de France. "I spoke calmly with Wout and asked him to give me an answer after the Tour de France." Van Aert initially said he was not very interested in the world championship in Africa, but after the Giro d'Italia something might have changed and at the moment only one rider, called by Pauwels, has said he is not interested in the Kigali World Championship. "So far, only Tim Wellens has let me know he is not too interested in this World Championship, but it's still early and we must wait and see what happens at the Tour."