Eddy Merckx Backs Belgium for Road World Championships in Absence of Tadej Pogačar

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx believes Belgium has a high chance of repeating success at the Road World Championships in Canada this Sunday, particularly given the absence of Tadej Pogačar.

Speaking to RTBF, the 81-year-old Belgian stated that his country possesses two major cards to play in the elite men's race: Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert.

Both riders carry strong track records into the event. Evenepoel previously won the World Championship title back in 2022 and finished second last year, while Van Aert took silver in the same event in Imola in 2020.

Merckx's assessment comes 52 years after he claimed his third Road World Championship title on the streets of Montreal.