The first Six-Day race of this winter takes place in London and started a few days ago. After the first two days, the duo Kenny De Ketele/ Moreno de Pauw is in the lead ahead of the other Belgian duo Iljo Keisse/Gijs Van Hoecke. "We're going for the win," said Kenny De Ketele.

After the first two days, five teams are still on the same lap, but Kenny De Ketele and Moreno De Pauw have taken the lead on points. "We knew we were good, we have a perfect preparation behind us," De Ketele tells Sporza.

De Ketele forms a strong pair with Moreno De Pauw. "De Pauw has been underestimated for years. He is one of my best friends and you also feel it on the bike. He goes full for the sprints, while I'm more the engine of the two of us. We're going full for the win."

We also find a Belgian duo in second place: Keisse and Van Hoecke. "It's fun to occupy the first places with four Belgians in a six-day in a city like London. That is good for Belgian track racing."

A six-day was last held in London 35 years ago. "However, it is alive," De Ketele said. "The fans are excited. There have been taken initiatives to have an attractive six-day with DJs, smoke and light effects. I have a good time."

With the Belgian team, De Ketele reached was eighth in the team pursuit at the European Championships in Switzerland last week. "We set a national record. We rode over a second faster than the previous record, which is really a lot."

"Unfortunately, the eighth place is not enough to be allowed to go to the Olympics in Rio. In two weeks we will ride the World Cup in Colombia and we have to make the podium, but then the Dutch cannot finish higher than eighth place.

"Therefore it will be difficult to qualify and the guys realize that. The problem is that we are five riders who can ride a fast time. To be up there, you should have more riders. Then some of us could save ourselves."

Last week Jasper De Buyst regretted the Belgian track culture. De Ketele agrees. "We continue to be professional riders on the road, we just ride on the track for fun and for our own prestige.

"Six-Days are the only races where we make some money, but those races are difficult to combine with World Cups. They are a variety of disciplines, we have need to keep the Six-Days going for the money.

"This winter I will ride six Six-Days and I can make a living. People can better estimate performances in Six-Days than in World Cups. The team pursuit is a discipline that is less appealing to people."