Pauwels hopes to convince Van Aert for Rwanda Worlds

Van Aert previously indicated that he would skip the Rwanda Worlds after a long and emotionally taxing season. Pauwels understands the hesitation, but isn't ready to close the door. “It’s a fine line between respecting what someone like Wout wants, and still trying to change his mind. Especially after what I saw from him in the final Tour stage, I believe he could play a crucial role.”

That said, Pauwels is realistic: “Everything depends on how much energy he thinks he’ll have left at the end of the year. His season started with rehab after the Vuelta, then came cyclocross, the Spring Classics, the Giro and the Tour. His feeling is that it would be too much - physically, but especially mentally - to add a World Championships on top of that.”

Van Aert’s potential return would not be symbolic. “If Wout goes, it’s not just to raise hopes,” Pauwels said firmly. “It would require full commitment and proper preparation, especially with the altitude and heat in Rwanda.”

With the road race scheduled for 28 September, Pauwels is slowly assembling his final eight-rider roster. While he keeps most of the names internal for now, he confirmed four “certainties” to Sporza: Remco Evenepoel, Ilan Van Wilder, Tiesj Benoot and Victor Campenaerts.

“Victor had a superb Tour,” Pauwels noted. “Those four are already part of the plan.”

Van Aert, meanwhile, remains the big unknown. Pauwels plans to meet with him one more time now that the Tour de France is over. “I want to hear the decision from him directly. But if in one or two weeks he changes his mind and says he wants to prepare for it, then of course I’d be happy to include him.”

Still, Pauwels is aware that preparing for a World Championship in Rwanda requires more than just a late decision.

“The road race takes place above 1,400 metres and includes a demanding circuit with climbs similar to the Cauberg and Montmartre,” Pauwels explained. “That extra loop toward Mount Kigali is particularly hard, although it comes 100km from the finish.”

Despite the difficulty, Pauwels believes the route could suit Van Aert - if he’s at full strength. “Yes, I think he has a chance,” he said. “But you also have to look at what Tadej Pogačar does. That could blow things apart early. So yes, it’s a hard course, but not impossible for Wout.”

But all of that hinges on one thing: whether Van Aert decides he’s in.