Mathieu van der Poel won the dress rehearsal for the World Championships. "Inseven weeks it could be completely different, but it gives a lot of confidence." He was also full of praise of his compatriot Lars van der Haar who was third. "Lars was actually the strongest today."

The World Championships will also take place on the motor circuit in Zolder on January 31. With today's win, Van der Poel's confidence got a serious boost. "I knew that this race was good for me, but it is very difficult to make the difference here. Just before the hardest section I saw that Lars had a flat tire. I knew: 'This is the moment,'" he told Sporza.

"I think the decision will always be made there, on that climb just after the running section. This victory is not everything, but of course it gives a lot of confidence for the Worlds. It is certainly better to win here than to be tenth.

"Lars van der Haar was stronger than me. He had a flat tire at a bad time and I benefited. I was not as strong as last week in Namur. I could feel it when I accelerated in the last lap. I quickly got a few lengths ahead but I felt that I was blowing myself up and I had to slow down."

Van der Haar came back to his comaptriot but a puncture took him out of contention.

"Lars and I were evenly matched," van der Poel said. "Lars was even slightly stronger. This is just a course that suits him very well. He is the man I will have to keep an eye on at the Worlds, along with Kevin Pauwels. Of course, I also take Wout van Aert into account. I don't write him off completely. Today he was ill so it is not illogical that he was not good. This victory gives me confidence. It's still in the right direction. "

"The circumstances can be completely different in the end of January. My condition could be worse, it may be snowing... I think Lars and I have proved today that we are among the favorites for the Worlds. I think he was actually  even stronger today. This circuit is really him.

"I think we need to relativize the results of Van Aert. If you are sick, it makes sense. Lars Boom was never in the mix, but it would be nice if he can play a significant role for the Netherlands in a month."