With the elite men's time trial at the Road World Championships in Yorkshire (open in new tab) just days away, Remco Evenpole's (open in new tab) whirlwind season looks set to continue.

The Belgian has had a remarkable debut season on the World Tour, winning the European Championships time trial and the Clasica San Sebastian. A string of impressive runs at the recent Deutschland Tour, including a long solo attack that had several WorldTour teams scrambling to follow him, made him a contender for the Yorkshire podium, even if he might struggle on the 54km course.

"I'm ready and I think the course suits me," Evenpoel said at the Belgian press conference in York on Monday night, confident as ever.

"I'm motivated and I think I'm in better shape than I was a month ago.

The course that Evenpoel won at the European Championships in August is only 22 km, less than half of the course he will face in Yorkshire. But while the notion of riding for more than an hour in the saddle would be a daunting prospect for most elite athletes, the young Belgian does not seem to have lost his mind.

"I've heard that the 54km time trial is something special," he said.

"I wouldn't say I'm nervous, but I'm pretty excited to see how I handle this long distance."

And when asked if it is too early for a young rider like himself to become an elite time trial world champion, Evenpoel simply shrugged his shoulders, gave a brief smile, and replied: "It's never too early."

Only 12 months earlier, at the World Championships, Evenpoel was running around the junior field in both the time trial and the road race. He was running around the junior field in both the time trial and the road race. His performance in the latter, in which he sliced through the field almost effortlessly after a crash, was one of the most iconic moments of last year's championship.

His transition to the elite has not only been a race against the clock, but also a dominant performance in demanding stage races such as the Baloise Belgian Tour, where he tormented the likes of Victor Campenaerts and Tim Wellens. He has excelled on virtually every terrain.

"It feels crazy. Last year I was with the juniors, now I'm with the pros, and it's only been a year," said Evenpoel, at least acknowledging the speed of his development as a rider.

"I feel good in training and it motivates me to do more and more."

Evenpoel's preparation for the World Championships included two World Tour races in Canada and a short training camp in Belgium. Although he did not achieve notable results in Canada, Evenpoel is confident in his form. [The Canadian race went well. The race in Canada went well. Then we had a small training camp in the Ardennes. The training camp in the Ardennes went well.

"I'm ready and I think I'm in the best shape of the year. With power, I feel fresh. I'm ready."

The field here at Worlds is definitely a step up from the field he crushed at the European Championships.

Defending champion Rohan Dennis enters the competition looking spring-loaded and ready to unleash his frustrations of the past few months. World Hour Record holder and Evenpoel's Belgian teammate Victor Campenaerts is also here.

In other words, Evenpoel has a somewhat modest goal of a top-five finish as his primary objective.

"My absolute goal is top five, but I won't be disappointed if I don't achieve it. If I can get everything out of my legs, I'll be happy. I'm already on a roll this season, so I just need to get on the bike and see what my legs can give me."

Few would bet on a top five finish. Others are betting on winning the rainbow jersey. Whatever happens, the young Belgian will once again be one of the most intriguing riders during the World Championships.