Toon Aerts (Telenet-Fidea) was overjoyed with his victory in Leuven. "A Worlds participation would be the icing on the cake," said Aerts.

Toon Aerts is currently the cyclo-cross rider of 2016 . After his third place in Baal, he came out on top in Leuven. "After the race in Baal, I was overwhelmed by the number of messages, tweets and phone calls," Aerts told Sporza.

"I felt really strong today," he added. Aerts took off in the second lap and extended his lead throughout the race. First chaser was teammate Tom Meeusen who started the final lap 16 seconds behind. However, Aerts crashed and it became even more exciting in the finale.

"Stress," the 22-year old said. "I made too many mistakes in the end. To win a race you have to be focused all the time and that was not the case. I was not paying enough attention. In the penultimate lap I made a few mistakes and in the last lap there was the crash. That was quite a shock and I even had to check which direction I had to go. Then I had to find the right rhythm again. Meanwhile, I heard the crowd cheeo Tom on and that noise came closer and closer so I had a little scare. You know he's a teammate, but I again had to go full gas to maintain the gap."

Aerts maintained the lead and took his second win of the season after an earlier victory in the German city of Bensheim. "I just felt really strong today, but it is still an unexpected victory. I am still not thinking much about the Belgian Championships. That is still a week away. I just hope to play a role," he said.

Aerts dreams about the World Championships in Zolder. "It remains to be seen: We will see whether I will be part of the Worlds team or not. I cannot complain about my season but a Worlds participation in their my home area would naturally be the icing on the cake." 

It is remarkable that Aerts especially shines on tough courses. "I love mud because I can handle it better with others with my big engine. Because of my height, running also suits me very much.

"I think that can eventually mix it up with van der Poel and Van Aert. Not every week, of course."

The interview shows that Aerts is a talkative guy. "I've got media training with Sven Nys. Then I learned that I need to think in advance before I say something in an interview."

Telenet-Fidea manager Kris Wouters praised Toon Aerts. "He is a very easygoing guy," he told Sporza "Toon always puts himself in the service of the team. The Belgian Worlds squad could certainly use such a boy.

"Today Toon has put his hand up for the Worlds team. If he does not get dropped next weekend at the Belgian Championships, I am convinced that he has earned his ticket for Zolder."