Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) has expressed interest in the time trial at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He will face stiff competition from Hour Record holder Victor Kampenaerts for Belgium's second slot. Lemko Evenpoel won the European time trial title and finished second in the World Championships behind Rohan Dennis.

In his first year at the World Tour, Van Aert won the Belgian time trial title after an unlikely victory on stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphiné. In the Tour de France, he suffered a serious crash on stage 13 of the Pau time trial, forcing him to abandon the race.

"I wouldn't say no to a time trial at the Tokyo Olympics," Van Aert said, according to the Belga News Agency (opens in new tab). 'If we have good preparation for the Olympics, we will do well there.'

The two Belgian riders selected for the time trial must also be part of a five-man team for the road race on July 25, four days before the individual time trial. 'On a course like that, I have less chance than the climbers, but I'm confident I can help my teammates,' Van Aert said. I'm ready to work for them."

Van Aert was unable to compete at the European and World Championships, where he would have qualified for the Olympics according to Belgium's selection criteria, due to injury.

Since only Evenpole qualified for the Olympics, Van Aert is competing for a spot along with Campenaerts and possibly Yves Lampert (Deceuninck-QuickStep). Campenaerts suffered mechanical problems in the time trial at the World Championships, missing out on the podium and an Olympic berth.

"Before winning the time trial at the Dauphiné and the Belgian Championships, people might not have thought I was a time trial specialist. Now they don't. I didn't make it to the European Championships or the World Championships because of my injuries."

"It's a shame Victor had problems at the World Championships, but I didn't prove myself there either."

Kampenaerts, who will move from Lotto Soudal to NTT (formerly Dimension Data) this winter, is reportedly already in talks with the Belgian federation about a possible trip to the Tokyo Olympics, but Van Aert is not giving up on missing out on a spot.

"Of course, my rehabilitation is the most important thing," Van Aert said. I am not going to contact them or beg for selection."

Van Aert has indicated that he intends to return to cyclocross activities over the Christmas period. 'My dream scenario is to participate and have fun,' he said. 'I'd love to compete in the Belgian Championships and get into the upper echelon of the World Championships, but I don't know if that's realistic.'