The organizers of the Druivencross refuse to reveal any figures but that the interest in "the mother of all crosses" was poor at yesterday's edition was evident in Overijse. Whiile many races have a packed VIP area and lots of spectators at the key points of the course, there was still a lot of room in Overijse.

The reason? Without Wout Van Aert and, to a lesser extent, Lars Van der Haar, the field was less steller. But especially the feud with Sven Nys, the local rider, cost the Druivencross lots of spectators. Last week Nys criticisized the organizers heavily after they only paid him a third of his starting money last year. "Disrespectful", said Nys who decided to skip this year's race.

That had serious consequces. It was also evident for Willy Van Roy, president of the organizers. But he refuses to go too much into the discussion.

"How many people did it cost us?" he angrily asked when speaking to Het Nieuwsblad. "I do not know, because I have no figures. I only know that it is outrageous that Nys is not here. For me he is one of the poorest guys I know. And I refuse not say more about that. Schluss!"