Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar will not ride in the post-Tour criterium in Roeselare, raising speculation about recovery and future race plans.
Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert will also not be present. The organizers would have liked to reveal these well-known names. However, the same 25,000 people as last year are still anticipated.
Every year, thousands of cycling enthusiasts flock to the heart of Roeselare, Belgium, to attend the Dovy Natourcriterium.
This year will be no exception. Tim Wellens, Kaden Groves, and Tim Merlier were among the Tour de France stage winners who the organizers were able to acquire once more.
“Our main goal was to bring Evenepoel and Pogačar here as well,”
says Baptiste Cobbe of Roeselare Koerst.
“But unfortunately, that didn’t work out. Remco was practically stuck, but unfortunately, he dropped out. The yellow jersey rider is opting for some rest and time with his wife after a tough Tour de France. Wout van Aert also wanted to take it easy for a few days.”
The organizers have also secured a few other Belgian stars, including Victor Campenaerts and Thibau Nys.
“And there are also some great names on the start list for the Gentlemen Classic,”
says Merlier.
“Etienne De Wilde, Johan Museeuw, and Maurizio Fondriest have all worn a world champion’s jersey. And former footballers Gert Verheyen and Geert De Vlieger want to show they can also hold their own in the peloton of stars.”
How might Van Aert and Evenepoel’s absence affect race dynamics?
Without major favorites like Van Aert and Evenepoel, the race becomes more open and unpredictable. Other riders or smaller teams may see an opportunity to attack earlier, with no single dominant rider or team to control the pace or shut down breakaways. This often leads to a more aggressive and animated race, as no one rider is clearly expected to dictate the action.
Van Aert’s absence, in particular, can create a “power vacuum,” where teams that might normally have ridden defensively change tactics and try to be more proactive.
Similarly, Evenepoel’s absence means rival classics specialists and sprinters may try to assert themselves without worrying about his engine or finishing speed influencing the finale.
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