Tim Wellens (open in new tab) said it is beneficial that he and Belgium will get wet at Sunday's World Championships. The Belgian team arrived in Yorkshire ahead of the men's elite road race. Wellens is joined by Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet and former world champion Philippe Gilbert in an eight-man squad with few weaknesses.

While the sun was shining on Thursday morning as the six Belgian athletes raced on the finish course around Harrogate, the fall conditions will change on Sunday, with rain expected for much of the race. This change in conditions will likely have a major impact on how the race unfolds.

"It's a good course, but it will make a big difference if it's wet or dry," Wellens told Cycling News after the training ride. If it's wet, of course it will be much, much harder."

Wellens' compatriot Jan Bakelants told Cycling News after competing in the rainy team time trial on the first day of the championships that the course had some treacherous points. Wellens cited the exact same pinch points as Bakelanz when analyzing the dangers of this year's road course.

"There are two downhill sections with two nasty corners. They are off-camber and speedy. It's hard to get up to speed and not crash.

"Everyone is familiar with parkour and will ride carefully, but eventually some will take risks and some may push the limits.

The 284.5-km course opens with a long 180-km section before several laps around Harrogate. Unlike last year's Innsbruck, there are no significant climbs to make or break the race. Instead, the Yorkshire course will consist of undulating sections and technical changes.

"It's not very impressive in terms of elevation, but it feels harder than it is on paper," Wellens said. [The surface and corners mean constant braking and accelerating. Being in a good position during the race is key. You also need luck. Wet racing is good for me and for the whole Belgian team."

Van Avermaet echoed Wellens on the importance of the weather. The recent winner of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, he is one of the protected riders on the Belgian team and rode part of the course earlier this year when the Tour de Yorkshire took place.

"The weather is a big factor. If it rains, the race will be even more difficult than it is now. Getting important positions will be key, but there will also be crashes. It's a tricky course

"The key will be the uphill bridges and the stretches of the peloton. Getting a good position will be key, but it will be difficult to always be in the lead as others will probably use the same strategy."

Dylan Theuns is likely to support Wellens, Gilbert, and Van Avermaert on Sunday, likening the Yorkshire course to the Amstel Gold Race after running the entire route over the last two days.

"Yesterday we ran a big loop. It was pretty hard and my legs hurt after the first 180km, even before the last lap. It's technical, but the non-technical sections are hard too. In some ways it's similar to the Amstel Gold Race because of the loops and climbs. As always, the last lap will decide the winner."