Belgium once again have announced a strong team for the World Championships in Richmond, USA. The team will be provisionally co-lead by Philippe Gilbert, Tom Boonen and Greg Van Avermaet.

Joining them is Iljo Keisse, Nikolas Maes and Stijn Vandenbergh, Sep Vanmarcke, Jens Keukeleire and Tiesj Benoot, surprisingly the only member of Lotto Soudal to make the team.

However, a Lotto-Soudal trio of Jens Debusschere, Jurgen Roelandts, Tosh Van Der Sande, along with Yves Lampaert, make up the reserves for the road race.

Lampaert is consoled by the fact that he and Belgian champion Jurgen Van den Broeck have been selected to ride the time trial.

Andre Greipel has already said he thinks it will be a mistake by Belgium to not take his leadout men Roelandts and Debusschere to the race.