Next week Iljo Keisse will tarhey his 7th victory in the Six Days of Ghent. "With Viviani at my sie, I am riding with a top track and road rider,” he tells Sporza.

After a long road seaso,n Iljo Keisse also want to deliver a shown for his home fans in Ghent. 'The Emperor of t Kuipke’ has won the Six Days of Ghent 6 times. Will he get the main trophy for the 7th time?

"It would be a nice picture if I'm on the top step of the podium with Wiggins/Cavendish and De Ketele / De Pauw at my side," said Keisse.

"That picture would deserve a nice place in my house. But we are not so far yet. It will not be easy to beat these guys."

With Elia Viviani, Keisse will have the Olympic omnium champion at his side. "Viviani is a top track rider but also a top road rider," Keisse said of his Italian teammate.

"It is only the first time that Viviani will ride the Ghent Six Day. It will therefore first be about getting used to it. The important thing is that he is ready by the weekend because that’s when the real prizes are hand out."

With the strongest field in 15 years, however, Keisse and Viviani can take nothing for granted. 

"Everyone names Cavendish / Wiggins as the pair to beat,” said Keisse. "But my tip is De Ketele/De Pauw. They have been riding together for a long time and can rely on automatisms and experience. Of course Cavendish and Wiggins will not hold anything back as world champions. I know Cav, he is very proud and wants to fully go for the win. And with Wiggins he has a very strong man at his side. "