Van der Pol and Mollema lead the Dutch delegation to the World Championships

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Van der Pol and Mollema lead the Dutch delegation to the World Championships

The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) has announced the men's elite squad for the UCI Road World Championships road race and individual time trial to be held in Yorkshire, England from September 21 to 29.

Van der Poel admitted last week at an event organized by his Corendon Circus Trades team that he is one of the big favourites for the classic-style 284.5km road race from Leeds to Harrogate on September 29, with Morema also expected to be in the mix

"I'm not sure I'll be able to do it.

"We have been able to put together a team that is capable of competing for medals in the time trial and the road race.

"I have full confidence in the individual and team qualities of this strong group of riders.

Van der Pol said last week that his performances in this year's spring classics, in which he won Amstel Gold, Doire de Vlaanderen, Dunain GP, and Brabants Pile, make him a definite contender for the championship.

"The World Championships in Yorkshire are in store for me," he said. Sometimes it's completely flat or for climbers, like in Switzerland next year. Now I just have to take my chances."

The Dutch team will field eight riders in the road race, with Van der Pol and Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), former Paris-Roubaix and Tour de Flanders champion Niki Terpstra and this year's Tour de France opening stage winner, They will be strongly supported by Mike Tunissen. The team includes Pieter Weening (Loompott-Charles), Sebastian Langefeldt (EF Education First), Jos van Emden (Jumbo-Visma), and Dylan van Baarle (Team Ineos), the latter two of whom will also compete in the individual time trial on September 25. The latter two will also compete in the individual time trial on September 25.

Mollema and van Emden will also compete in the mixed relay on September 22. This year's new competition will replace the men's and women's team time trial at the World Championships, where three men and three women from the same country will compete in separate team time trials, and after a relay-style handover, their times will be combined to determine the national team winner.

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