Hoste recons World's TT course

A small Belgian delegation including Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel), Nick Nuyens (Quick Step), U23 riders Dominique Cornu and Greg Van Avermaet, as well as Sharon Van Dromme, Ann Van Rie and national coach Carlo Bomans went to Salzburg to see the parcours of this year's World Championships. Hoste, who took the national time trial title in 2001, wants to concentrate solely on the race against the clock.

"I won't ride any Grand Tours like the Tour or Vuelta this year anymore," Hoste said. "I'll use the Tour de Suisse and the Deutschland Tour to prepare a 100 percent for the World's time trial." But the Belgian finally found a tough course to take on in September. "I'm of the same opinion as our coach: Salzburg will be the hardest World's time trial in history," he continued. "It's constantly up and down, and then there will be the wind. There are no possibilities to recuperate. But the parcours should suit me, because I prefer short climbs to long flats."

Whether Hoste will also participate in the road race remains to be seen. "We shall see if they need me and if I fit into the concept around Tom Boonen," he added. Meanwhile, Nick Nuyens is already on the list to line up in the road event in Salzburg. "There has been a lot of speculation about the World's course lately," he said. "Now, I could see for myself. The course remains hard to categorize, because it's still far from the last climb to the finish. However, it should be a good parcours for my teammate Tom Boonen, even if the loop also seems made for outsiders - there could also be a surprise winner."