Lars Boom finished in 43rd place at the cyclo-cross World Cup in Heusden-Zolder. "My body is no longer used to this," the former world champion admitted afterwards. "I finish more than seven minutes behind and was almost lapped. That's not a nice feeling."

This Christmas Lars Boom makes a brief comeback in the field. In Heusden-Zolder, he was on the cross bike for the first time - to get through a very heavy hour.

"What a day," Boom told Sporza after his 43rd place. "I have suffered from start to finish.

"I never felt good on the bike. My back was hurting. It is a problem that goes to the head during the race.

"It is not abnormal. It's my first cross, a technical course, tossing and turning, it goes so fast. You may do your training in the field, but that is not the same as in a race.

On the Terlaemen race track, Lars Boom who started from behind just not ridden a lap, was even about to get lapped by the best riders.

"I am disappointed. I can't hide that. I finished more than seven minutes behind and was almost lapped. That's not a nice feeling...."

"It's not that I thought about abandoning, but it was not fun. Now, well, I got some good cyclo-cross training, one intensive hour. That's what I can get from this race."

On Tuesday, Boom will do the race in Loenhout and on January 2 he will ride on home soil in Surhuisterveen. "I hope it will go better in the other two races.

"I like to be back in cyclo-cross and as the back problems are resolved, I will have more power and ride better.

"The first race is always difficult. I knew that because the level was high. But of course I'm really disappointed after such a race."