Marlux-Napoleon Games hopes to win the rainbow jersey with Kevin Pauwels or Michael Vanthourenhout at the Cyclo-Cross World Championships tomorrow. To give an extra boost, the sponsors have promised a special prize of 37,500 euros.

37,500 euros: it is the strong incentive that Kevin Pauwels and Michael Vanthournhout will have to go for a world title. "That's the highest prize in the history of cyclo-cross," team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen told Het Nieuwsblad.

"The Worlds, together with the overall victory in the Superprestige, are the only big wins that our team have not taken yet. To achieve that goal, the sponsors wanted to do an extra gesture."

But is the prize is also a wise move by manager Mettepenningen? "It serves to motivate the togetherness within the squad," said Mettepenningen.

"I'm not concerned with that prize," announced Kevin Pauwels at the Belgian press chat. "For me, the race is more important than that money.

"I just really like the world title. I am very motivated. I do not need money to get extra motivation."