The world time trial championships won't take place until September 25 but Belgium has already selected its two representatives for the battle for the rainbow jersey in the individual discipline. National champion Kristof Vandewalle and Thomas De Gendt will line up in the Belgian colours to set out on the flat course in the Italian city of Florence.

Having held its national time trial championships on Sunday, Belgium has now selected the two riders that will represent it in the discipline at the world championships in September. Unsurprisingly, Kristof Vandewalle (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) who crushed the opposition three days ago by distancing 2nd-place Philippe Gilbert (BMC) by more than a minute, will get his chance to add the rainbow jersey to the Belgian drikleur he already has in his wardrobe.

After his win, Vandewalle said that his major target in the second part of the season is the world team time trial championships where he is eager to once again get selected by his team which won the title last year. With today's selection, he now knows with certainty that he will be present in Florence in late September.

He will be joined by Thomas De Gendt who didn't perform well on Sunday, taking a modest 18th. However, the Belgian had a very strong ride in the first Tour de France time trial where he took 3rd behind world champion Tony Martin and yellow jersey Chris Froome. That performance has earned him the right to represent his country in the battle for the rainbow jersey.

The time trial takes place on September 25.