World Championships Cycling 2024: What can Belgium do?

From 21 till 29 September, the best cyclists in the world are fighting for the World Championship in Zürich, Switzerland. Let’s see what’s at stake for the Belgians! Our selection is strong as ever, but with challenging competitors from all over the world, it could be anyone’s game… Here's what’s up in this must-watch cycling event!

A quick overview

Time trials, road races, men, women, elites, juniors, para-cycling… Zürich has a busy week ahead! Here are the key events and their details:

• Men’s elite individual time trials: Sunday, 22 September, 46.1 km, 413 m elevation gain
• Women’s elite individual time trials: Sunday, 22 September, 29.9 km, 327 m elevation gain
• Men’s elite road race: Sunday, 29 September, 273.9 km, 4,470 m elevation gain
• Women’s elite road race: Saturday, 28 September, 154.1 km, 2,384 m elevation gain

Belgians to look out for

There’s no way around Remco Evenepoel in modern cycling. The Belgian prodigy will defend his 2023 title in the individual time trial event. For the road race event, he will join the likes of Tiesj Benoot, Jasper Stuyven, and Tim Wellens in a bid for a precious medal.

Most likely to win (elite men's time trial event): Remco Evenepoel

Lotte Kopecky, too, is in a league of her own. In Glasgow last year, she became the world champion in the road race event, and she has a shot at back-to-back wins. More recently, she became the time trial European champion: a world champion jersey would suit her too.

Most likely to win (elite women's road race event): Lotte Kopecky

It’s worth noting that last year, Belgium won the most medals: 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. Can we equal the 2023 result, or can we do even better? Of course, don’t look for last year’s silver medal winner Wout Van Aert: he’s still recovering from his nasty fall in the Vuelta…

Strong contenders

Belgium is not alone with its aspirations for glory, of course. In the individual time trial, Evenepoel will get fierce competition from Filippo Ganna (Italy), Primož Roglič (Slovenia), and Stefan Küng (Switzerland). With the return of one Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) the elite men’s road race event could prove a one-sided affair. Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel (the Netherlands) could be the only challengers here.

Most likely to win (elite men's road race event): Tadej Pogačar

On the women’s time trial side, last year’s winner Chloe Dygert (USA) is looking to wear the world champion jersey one more year. Look to Kopecky and especially Grace Brown (Australia) to rise to the challenge. As for the road race, Kopecky will go head to head with the likes of Demi Vollering (the Netherlands) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy). Excitement guaranteed in Zürich!

Most likely to win (elite women's time trial event): Grace Brown