After the doping accusations that made him an unlikely participant, Tom Meeusen finished sixth at the World Championships. However, the Belgian was not satisfied.

On Saturday morning the entire Belgian team had a doping control. A normal procedure but in the evening Tom Meeusen was again tested.

"Only Laurens Sweeck (also mentioned in the ozone case, ed.) and I had to pee again at 21.30," said Meeusen at the finish. "The fact that we had to turn up just made me so mad that I did not sleep all night. That's no excuse but I have had two weeks of doping accusations and now this..."

Meeusen still started strongly. 

"In the first lap, I tried to push the pace and catch Mathieu van der Poel, but he was too fast. It was a shame that van Aert dropped his chain. Otherwise he would have stayed with van der Poel and the pace would have gone down.

"I was not good enough. Mathieu was the best and I had expected that. In the first lap, I tried to push the pace to avoid that he went a bloc. But in the second lap, he hit the front and there was not much to do.

"I had not such a good day and have lost a lot of condition during the past two weeks. I was mentally broken at the start. Sixth at the Worlds is nothing special but it is not too bad."

Vantornout: The best rider won

Belgian champion Klaas Vantornout was never in contention for the medals.

"I was riding well, but the pace at the front was just too high. I had to adjust when Van der Poel went.

"The best rider won. Like van Aert, van der Poel is a super talent. Those two make cross very beautiful."

Vantornout is pleased to still have his his tricolore jersey: "I have one of two jerseys and am happy with my season. That jersey gives peace of mind."