Belgium, with several riders capable of winning the elite men's road race, is a luxury (or even a potential hindrance) awaiting the UCI Road World Championships later this month. Greg Van Avermaet, 2012 road race world champion Philippe Gilbert, and perhaps even young prospect Remco Evenpole are all eyeing their chances on the long and undulating course in Yorkshire, England, at the end of September.

The trio will be followed by this year's Milan-San Remo runner-up Oliver Naessen (AG2R La Mondiale) and Tour de France stage winner Dylan Tuns (Bahrain-Merida).

According to the Belgian Cycling Federation, three more riders will be named on September 16, completing the eight-rider field.

Van Avermaert (CCC Team) is not having the best season by his standards, with only stage wins in Valencia Volta and Tour de Yorkshire this season, but the 284.5km road course should suit the 34-year-old Olympic road race should be perfect for the 34-year-old Olympic road race champion.

Gilbert, a 37-year-old veteran, is also looking to add a second world title to the one he won in Valkenburg seven years ago.

Evenpoel, meanwhile, won the junior road race and time trial titles at last year's world championships in Innsbruck, Austria, but will skip the under-23 category entirely this time around and race at the elite level. The 19-year-old, who made his pro debut at the Detunink Quick-Step, won the Clasica San Sebastian, won a stage and the overall at the Baloise Belgian Tour, won a stage at the Adriatica Ionica race, and in August represented Belgium at the Dutch He won the title at the European Time Trial Championships in the Netherlands in August.

Evenpoel will again represent Belgium in the individual time trial on September 25, along with Dečuninck-Quick Step teammate Yves Lampert and world hour record holder Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Soudal), and then in the September 29 road race.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, national coach Rick Verbrugghe said at the Belgian federation's announcement on Monday, "It was not easy to put the selection together. 'We have a lot of players who proved this year that they are ready for the World Championships.'

"We had to make some difficult decisions in the selection," Verbrugghe admitted. The five riders we have already called up have shown in the last few months that they deserve a ticket to the World Championships." We will announce the names of the remaining three next Monday after Montreal and Quebec (Canada's two one-day World Tour events) and the Vuelta a España.

"The Canadian course is similar to the Yorkshire course and will give us a great indication (of how the riders will perform). I have already been in contact with the riders involved and know that they are qualified to compete in the World Championships. They now have to convince me. [Julien Alaphilippe of France and Mathieu van der Pol of the Netherlands are definitely at the top of the list.

"It is my job now to make sure that everyone is facing the same direction. 'It's important to have clear agreements in place beforehand. But I am confident we will succeed and have a good World Cup."

Regarding Evenpole's selection at such a young age, Verbrugghe added that the young Belgian is gaining experience for future World Championships and next year's Olympics.

"We recently discussed Lemko's participation in the World Championships with his team, Detunink Quickstep and (team manager) Patrick Lefevere. Lemko himself said he wanted to go, so we decided to take him."

"We all know he is special, and we want him to get a taste of what the World Championships are like, even though the course of over 280 kilometers will be tough for a young athlete. But I am sure the pressure is not on him."

Cycling News took Verbrugghe, Naessen, and Lampert on a reconnaissance ride of the World Championships course in early June. Their thoughts on the route can be seen in the video below.