Next week thousands of cycling fans will go to ‘t Kuipke to watch the Lotto Six-Day Flanders-Ghent (17 – 22 November). Jasper De Buyst (almost 22), who will team up with Otto Vergaerde (21), aims for his third consecutive victory.

Three years ago De Buyst made his début at the Ghent Six-Day, together with Tim Mertens. He finished sixth. In 2013 he rode at the side of Leif Lampater and he won the Ghent Six-Day for the first time. Last year the victory went to Jasper De Buyst and Kenny De Ketele. This year it’s the 75th edition of the Ghent Six-Day and he can score a hattrick with Otto Vergaerde as companion. This year they won bronze at the World Madison Championships.

“I wanted to ride together with Otto Vergaerde," he said. "It’s important to ride with someone who is as motivated as me and who has the capacities to ride a Six-Day. I already know Otto since the youth categories and this year we won bronze in the madison at the Track World Championships, but it’s the first time we will ride together at a Six-Day. I don’t see myself as the guide, I can share some of my knowledge, but Otto knows what to do.

"Each time I rode with a different partner in Ghent. With Leif Lampater I had never formed a duo before, and then you need some time to get to know each other. The first day it didn’t run smoothly and the first day is always important. Still, everything turned out well and we could win the Ghent Six-Day.”

Jasper De Buyst and Otto Vergaerde, who will ride in the Lotto jersey, will compete against duos like De Ketele/Van Hoecke, Keisse/Mørkøv, Rasmussen/Hester and Kneisky/De Pauw. What does De Buyst think of the chances for him and Vergaerde?

“Winning won’t be easy, but it’s definitely not impossible," he said. "The sprint and events where speed is important are my strong point, I already proved that the past two years. If I have to mention a weaker point of us, it would be our lack of experience. A duo like Keisse/Mørkøv might be able to gamble more, and we might feel some more stress. On the other hand we can count on our enthusiasm as youngsters. Otto and I are motivated to go full from day one. I don’t feel like we are less good than Keisse and Mørkøv.

“I don’t care how others see us, but because I won the two previous editions it seems logical to me that we are favourites. I think that when we finish ahead of Keisse and Mørkøv we will win. Although we shouldn’t underestimate other duos like De Ketele/Van Hoecke and Hester/Rasmussen, but I think it will be a battle between us two. But I want to ride my own race and not focus on others.

“The chance of a hattrick is realistic, my condition is better than last year. Then I had injuries of my crash in the World Cup of Guadalajara. I had a broken nose and blocked pelvis. The past three weeks I did all I could to be in shape now. In September I completed my first Grand Tour, the Vuelta. I already notice differences; a Grand Tour makes you more complete as a rider.

“It would be great to win this 75th edition, not many riders can win the Six-Day in an anniversary year and this will be the only jubilee edition I can win in Ghent. It would be fantastic to score a hattrick. In any case, the Ghent Six-Day remains the most beautiful. Definitely as a Belgian it’s an easy choice, but I think a lot of riders would choose for Ghent. There are hardly any other Six-Day races with that kind of atmosphere and so many spectators, that makes it fun for everyone.”