European champion Lars van der Haar tried to take the lead twice in the final lap of the Superprestige race in Gieten but had to settle for third place behind Mathieu van der Poel and Kevin Pauwels.

"I saw a gap in the last mud section. Mathieu made a mistake and moved to the right, then I hoped pass him on the left but I had to run. Then you know it's over. I saw the gap, but I was unable to pass him and that's a bit of a disappointment," he told Het Nieuwsblad.

"It was fight at times. Everyone felt yesterday's race. Nobody really had what was needed to get away. I did not stop in front of the football grandstand but saw that I could not close the gap. So when they slowed down a bit, I got back without any problems. In both races this weekend, I could have done better. I felt that I was in contention for a Superprestige victory so it's a bit of a disappointment.

"I can look back on a beautiful weekend, two good races, but in both race I could have finished higher. I felt that a first Superprestige victory was possible but Mathieu played it smarter in the end."