Belkin will line up at the World TTT championships with most of their Vuelta squad. The team will be missing Lars Boom and Robert Gesink who have ended their seasons prematurely due to fatigue and personal matters respectively.

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM will start the World Championships team trial Sunday in Ponferrada, Spain, with five riders who have finished the Vuelta a España. Rick Flens completes the six-headed squad for the 57-kilometre course in northwest Spain. 

“A Vuelta often makes for some extras in the legs, but it’s such a hard race that you cannot think about the time trial during the tour, which we haven’t,” said Sports Director Erik Dekker. 

“We deliberately decided to blow off some steam after the final stage. The wives, girlfriends and children came over on Sunday for some family time. That was necessary after such a long period. Starting Wednesday, we’ll shift our focus to the time trial.” 
 

Dekker and the riders already know the course well. In April, after the Tour of Basque Country, the Sports Director explored the roads of Ponferrada by bike and shared his experiences. 

“It’s not exactly technically, there are few corners and it is almost flat. I think it’s a nice time trial course.” 

He admits the team adjusted its ambitions without Lars Boom and Robert Gesink racing.

“They are two really good riders, and we will miss them, but that shouldn’t distract us from the reality. We’ll be riding the most important team time trial of the year on Sunday and we’ll do everything we can to finish as high up as possible.” 
 

Stef Clement agrees with his Sports Director. The four-time Dutch time trial champion and bronze medallist at the 2007 Worlds said the team will focus on its own performance.

“We need to focus on ourselves and ride as fast as possible. The guys who have completed the Vuelta are looking strong and I think Rick has had a good Tour of Britain. 

“I didn’t start the Vuelta very well, but improved along the way. I’m fit and with some rest and a few solid training rides, I should be ready for Sunday.” 
 

TEAM line-up:

Stef Clement, Rick Flens, Martijn Keizer, Wilco Kelderman, Maarten Tjallingii and Robert Wagner.