Tim Wellens responds to Worlds criticism: ‘I’d have no problem riding for Remco or Wout’

The 35-year-old Belgian had already ruled himself out of selection after the Tour de France, when fatigue and poor form left him unsure whether he could reach the required level in time.

His victory at the Tour of Britain has since put that decision back under the spotlight.

“After the Tour, I genuinely thought I would not be ready in time for a race of that level,” Wellens told La Dernière Heure.

“The deadline felt too short to find my best form again. Winning the Tour of Britain was a real surprise for me as well, but I stuck to my decision.”

Wellens’ strong week in Britain inevitably prompted questions in Belgium. After struggling badly following the Tour, he suddenly looked close to his best again.

He had previously revealed that he was barely able to produce 150 watts in training after the Tour, having completed the final week of the race while feeling unwell.

Medical examinations did not reveal a specific issue and Wellens eventually put the problems down to exhaustion. Together with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, he then decided to skip the Renewi Tour and focus on recovery and training.

“When I had to miss the Renewi Tour in August, I made a kind of agreement with the team management,” Wellens said.

“If I skipped that race, the GP de Wallonie and the CRO Race would take priority over the World Championships.”

By then, Wellens had already informed Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels that he did not expect to be available for Montréal.

His return to form changed the outside perception of that decision, but not his own plans.

“I know my decision has been criticised, but I would certainly have no problem riding for Remco or Wout,” Wellens said.

“My trade team remains my employer. They pay me. I have always been transparent and honest with Serge Pauwels.”

Evenepoel himself came closer than anyone to changing Wellens’ mind.

Wellens told earlier this week that the Olympic champion had contacted him personally in the hope that he would reconsider.

“I have to be honest, I did have doubts for a moment,” Wellens told Het Nieuwsblad.

“Not because of Serge, but because of messages I received from Remco.”

“It was clear from those messages that Remco would really have liked me to be there at the World Championships. That stroked my ego. But I am sticking to my decision.”

Wellens also made clear that he still considers representing Belgium an important honour.

“I realise that it is an honour and a privilege to race for the national team,” he said.

Wellens is due to race the GP Québec and GP Montréal before returning to Europe. He has already enjoyed success in Canada, having won in Montréal in 2015.

His absence will nevertheless leave Belgium without one of its most experienced support riders at a World Championships where Evenepoel and Van Aert are expected to carry much of the team’s ambition.

Wellens believes he could have played a role deep into the race.

“What would my role have been otherwise?” he said.

“Given the absence of Tadej [Pogačar], I think I could have helped open up the final.”

“But if he had been there, I would probably have had to do that much earlier in the race.”

Pogačar will not be part of Wellens’ immediate racing plans, with the Slovenian’s season already over, but the two have remained in contact.

Wellens said he spoke to the Slovenian last week and that several UAE riders had also called him during the Tour of Britain.

“We spoke on the phone last week,” Wellens said.

“Together with some of the other guys from the team, we FaceTimed him several times during the Tour of Britain.”

“He still looked a little bit like a boxer with his completely blue eye.”

“But he is no longer in pain and his morale is good. We laughed quite a lot during those conversations as well, which is always a good sign.”