Jasper De Buyst has left for Hong Kong where the last track World Cup of the season takes place next weekend. He’ll ride the omnium. That is the event in which he aims for a medal at the Olympics in August later this year. Last week he prepared the World Cup at the track in Ghent (Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx).

“Just before a big race we have a training camp with the Belgian cycling federation," he said. "Before the World Championships in March, we’ll go to Portugal for a few days, now we trained in Ghent. Only Jolien D’hoore and I were there so there was lots of time for intensive trainings. When you train with a larger group you have to wait longer before it’s your turn again, now that went more smoothly of course.

"During such a preparation it’s important to focus on the things you need to improve. Racing on the road has boosted my endurance, but I have lost some speed and it’s important to gain that back for the track. That’s why last week, I focused on speed and short sprints. After the Worlds in March I’ll ride the Flemish spring races, but I will keep training on the track in the meantime.

“Next weekend I will ride the omnium at the World Cup in Hong Kong. It’s the third and last World Cup of the season, but the first I take part in. In the past I contested all World Cups and the European and World Championships. That means you have to perform from October until the end of February, or the beginning of March in this case. In between the World Cups there isn’t enough time to take some rest, so by the end of the season you are really tired. It’s too much to then be top for the Olympics in August as well.”

In Hong Kong and the World Championships in London (2 – 6 March) there are still points to gain for the Olympic qualification; a maximum of 150 at the World Cup and 300 at the Worlds. A country only gets to select one rider for the omnium at the Olympics and has to be in the top eighteen of the Olympic rankings; besides that only eight European countries can take part. At the moment Belgium is eighth overall, as fifth European country.

“It’s certain that we will be one of the first eighteen countries in the ranking, in theory it’s still possible that we don’t end up in the top eight of Europe, but I don’t worry about that," De Buyst said. "In the past we were higher in the ranking, that’s true, now we’re the fifth European country. The third European and eighth European country are close. Between Belgium and Russia, the ninth European nation in the ranking, there is a difference of 114 points. With a good result in Hong Kong we’ll make another important step towards Rio and then we still have the World Championships, so we’ll be alright.

“In first instance, I go to the World Cup to set a strong performance in the race itself, I don’t think too much about the points. If we were the eighth European country that would be different, but now there is enough of a lead. When I start in a race I always want to do well. I aim for the best possible result I can get in Hong Kong and the podium would be good for the morale. Since the Ghent Six-Day in November I didn’t often train on the track, but I feel good and the data on the SRM Powermeter confirm it.”

2016 has to be the peak in his track career, afterwards he wants to focus on the road. And also next season that will be in Lotto Soudal outfit. His two-year contract has been extended until the end of 2017.

“The contract I signed two years ago offered me nice perspectives. I got the opportunity to chase my Olympic dream and I could combine this with racing on the road; that went really well. After my track adventure I want to build a career on the road, there’s no question about that. The Flemish spring races seem to best suit my physical capacities," he said.

“It’s reassuring that I already have a contract for the year after the Olympics. It’s great that the team shows it wants to give me the opportunity to prove myself on the road as well. Lotto Soudal lets young riders discover all types of races and allows us to learn from our mistakes. You get the chance to contest races just to help your development. Last year’s Vuelta was pretty hard, but it made me make a step forward.”