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BRUSSELS, Sept 14, 2009 (AFP) – Philippe Gilbert will lead the Belgian cycling team at the upcoming world road race championships it was announced by coach Carlo Bomans on Monday.

Bomans explained that Gilbert would be their main hope because he believed that the route for the road race on September 27 in Mendrisio, Switzerland, would be too tough for 2005 world champion Tom Boonen.

“There will be just one team leader at the start, the other riders will there to help him,” said Bomans.

“The course is both tiring and very short (13.8 kilometres).

“The two climbs come very quickly for the riders who will have barely been able to recover.

“Thus recuperating in between them will pose certain problems. Gilbert has a strong card to play in this respect, where his explosivity can pay off.”

While Bomans feared for Boonen’s prospects in the race, he didn’t totally rule out the sprint specialist still having a hand in the finish.

“I fear that the course will be too tough for Tom,” said Bomans.

“But if that is not the case, he could hide inside the peloton before striking when no one expects it.”

Team
Philippe Gilbert (Silence), Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Francis De Greef
(Silence), Kevin De Weert (Quick Step), Maxime Monfort (Columbia), Nick Nuyens
(Rabobank), Greg Van Avermaet (Silence), Maarten Wynants (Quick Step)

The ninth rider will be decided after Wednesday’s Grand Prix of Wallonia
and will be one of Dries Devenyns, Stijn Devolder, Bert De Waele, Serge
Pauwels, Johan Vansummeren and Jurgen Van den broeck.