Boonen, Gilbert head Belgian worlds team

Former world champion Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert will spearhead Belgium’s bid for the world road race championships’ rainbow jersey later this month.

Both riders are among a strong nine-man team, announced by the Belgian cycling league (RLVB) Friday, which also includes Vuelta a España stage winner Greg Van Avermaet and Tour of Flanders champion Stijn Devolder.

Boonen is one of several top riders hoping to come out top on the road race course at Varese, Italy on September 28 – and will likely have extra motivation.

The winner of the tough Paris-Roubaix one-day classic, for a second time, in April, Boonen was then dropped in disgrace from Quick Step’s Tour de France team after he tested positive for cocaine in May.

Since then, 2005 world champion Boonen appears to have knuckled down, winning a stage at this year’s Vuelta.

However it remains to be seen if he is better suited to the Varese course, which features two climbs that will be raced a total of 15 times each, than the more versatile Gilbert.

“Gilbert and Boonen will both have the status of ‘protected’ riders for our team, even though we don’t have a de facto leader,” said RLVB president Laurent De Backer. “It will all depend on who has the better legs on the day.”

Team Belgium for Worlds
Mario Aerts
Tom Boonen
Stijn Devolder
Kevin De Weert
Philippe Gilbert
Maxime Monfort
Nick Nuyens
Greg Van Avermaet
Jurgen Van Goolen

Replacements
Dominique Cornu
Bert Dewaele
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Johan Vansummeren
Maarten Wijnants

FILED UNDER: Road