"The Belgian Championship is one of my most important, but also one of my hardest races," top favourite Tom Boonen told Sporza ahead of today's race in Tervuren.. "If we go to the finish with a group, I can be calm. Then I can count on my sprint."

For many Tom Boonen is the top favorite in the Belgian championships in Tervuren. He has a chance to conquer the Drikleur for the third time in his career.

"The Belgian Championships is surely one of the most important races of the second part of the season," Boonen told on the eve of the race. "And because I had to miss the classics, it becomes even more important."

Many see Boonen as the leading contender. "The Belgian championships remains difficult to assess. You just don't take the win in a single moment. For me it is one of the hardest races of the year."

"I'm going to try to leave my mark, but we will have to deal with strong teams.

Boonen will be at the start with eight Etixx-QuickStep teammates. Lotto Soudal have 18 riders and Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise have 22.

"The course is not that bad. Hard but you can control the race and try to get a sprint from a select group," Tom Boonen hoped quietly.

"In the first half of the race we will have to be attentive. Then I can possibly try something myself but I'm not going to take it all on me.

"If we go to the finish with a group, I can be calm. Then I can count on my sprint.

"Together with Lotto we can ride for a sprint, but then all the fast men can not be in front. That is the hardest part."