'The highest possible result' – No Belgian recriminations after missing Worlds win

Belgium's Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert lead the select favourites group late in the road race at the 2023 UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow
Belgium's Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert lead the select favourites group late in the road race at the 2023 UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow (Image credit: Alex Broadway UCI PoolGetty Images)

A year on from Remco Evenepoel's triumph in Wollongong, Belgium were forced to make do with a silver medal at the UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow as Wout van Aert soloed to second place behind Mathieu van der Poel.

More often than not, the Belgians come to the elite men's road race with the strongest squad in the peloton and more options than other nations, but despite that Evenepoel's win is their sole rainbow jersey of the past 11 races.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.