A modular conveyor belt (200, 2100), comprising: at least a first link (210, 2510) and a second link (210, 2520); and an elongated connecting rod configured to hingedly attach the first link and the second link to one another; wherein the first link (210, 2510) includes a supporting structure (310, 2565) formed of a first material and a bearing structure (320, 2560) formed of a second material covering at least a portion of the supporting structure (310, 2565), the supporting structure (310, 2565) having a tensile strength that is higher than the bearing structure (320, 2560), and the bearing structure (320, 2560) being more resistant to wear than the supporting structure (310, 2565), wherein the bearing structure (320, 2560) prevents the supporting structure (310, 2565) from contacting at least the connecting rod, wherein the link has a substantially U-shaped configuration formed by two substantially longitudinally oriented legs (212, 2525, 2530) each having rod apertures (315, 325; 2540, 2545, 2550) at forward and trailing ends and a laterally oriented cross-member (216, 2535) between the two legs, characterized in that the bearing structure (320, 2560) is configured to prevent contact between the rod and the supporting structure (310, 2565) at the apertures at the forward and the trailing ends and a portion of the bearing structure (320, 2560) is disposed such that, when a conveyor belt connecting rod (220, 2522) is positioned through the apertures (315, 325; 2540, 2545, 2550) at the forward ends of the legs of the first link, the bearing structure (320, 2560) is located at a rod contacting surface of the cross-member. at least a first link (210, 2510) and a second link (210, 2520); and an elongated connecting rod configured to hingedly attach the first link and the second link to one another; wherein the first link (210, 2510) includes a supporting structure (310, 2565) formed of a first material and a bearing structure (320, 2560) formed of a second material covering at least a portion of the supporting structure (310, 2565), the supporting structure (310, 2565) having a tensile strength that is higher than the bearing structure (320, 2560), and the bearing structure (320, 2560) being more resistant to wear than the supporting structure (310, 2565), wherein the bearing structure (320, 2560) prevents the supporting structure (310, 2565) from contacting at least the connecting rod, wherein the link has a substantially U-shaped configuration formed by two substantially longitudinally oriented legs (212, 2525, 2530) each having rod apertures (315, 325; 2540, 2545, 2550) at forward and trailing ends and a laterally oriented cross-member (216, 2535) between the two legs, characterized in that the bearing structure (320, 2560) is configured to prevent contact between the rod and the supporting structure (310, 2565) at the apertures at the forward and the trailing ends and a portion of the bearing structure (320, 2560) is disposed such that, when a conveyor belt connecting rod (220, 2522) is positioned through the apertures (315, 325; 2540, 2545, 2550) at the forward ends of the legs of the first link, the bearing structure (320, 2560) is located at a rod contacting surface of the cross-member.