Jarno Widar denies withdrawing from World Championships

Belgian cyclist Jarno Widar has addressed his absence from the upcoming World Championships in Montréal, denying rumors that he withdrew from the event himself. Widar clarified that the decision was made by national coach Serge Pauwels, who reportedly felt it was too early for the young rider to participate due to the importance of positioning.

Widar expressed that he saw a clear role for himself within the Belgian team strategy, potentially acting as a support rider for leaders Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert by performing lead-outs or closing gaps in the final stages. He noted that while he and Pauwels had discussed his involvement during the Ronde de Burgos, the coach did not follow up with a final decision.

In discussing his racing philosophy, Widar identified Mathieu van der Poel as a primary idol, noting that they share a similar mindset of racing exclusively for victories rather than focusing on general classification rankings. Widar stated that he is only interested in pursuing a general classification if he believes a top-five finish is achievable.