Luxembourg, Belgium start naming final Worlds squads

Luxembourg and Belgium have announced partial teams for the upcoming World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, later this month. Luxembourg is sending a smaller squad than it could, and the Belgians have yet to name the men's road race team.

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Kim Kirchen (Columbia-HTC) are the big names on the team announced by the Grand Duchy's federation. Fränk Schleck was supposed to be on the roster as well, but instead is undergoing knee surgery later this week, ending his season early. Both Andy Schleck and Kirchen have dropped out of the Vuelta a España with intestinal problems, but are expected to be healthy again for the Worlds.

Laurent Didier (Design Kokken) and Jempy Drucker (Continental Team Differdange) round out the team. The country was sixth in World Classifications announced last month, allowing it to send nine riders to the World Championships, but the national federation chooses to compete with only four riders.

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Luxembourg has also nominated Pit Schlecter and Joël Zangerlé for the U23 road race. Ben Gastauer is named for the both the U23 road race and time trial.

According to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Belgian national coaches Carlo Bomans, Jean-Pierre Dubois and Ludwig Willems have selected the men's time trial, women's road and both U23 teams. Dominique Cornu and Sébastien Rosseler, both of Quick Step, will ride the men's race against the clock. The men's road race team is due to be announced September 14.

Jessie Daams, Lieselot Decroix, Liesbet De Vocht, Ludivine Henrion, and Grace Verbeke will ride the women's road race for Belgium. Julien Vermote and Jonathan Dufrasne will ride the U23 time trial, while Kris Boeckmans, Romain Zingle and Sep Vanmarcke have been named for the U23 road race.