Wout van Aert hopes to win his first Belgian title tomorrow. "He has 80 to 90 percent chance of winning," said Niels Albert, Van Aert’s manager at Crelan-Vastgoedservice.

Wout van Aert will start as a big favorite for the Belgian drikleur in his home city of Lille. But how does Niels Albert see the preparation for the Belgian Championships? "I feel involved in Wout but I'm not nervous. It's not that I am awake at night," Albert tells Sporza.

"Wout is the top favorite, but it has to be this year. He is just in his early twenties and at his young age he has done things that no one has done before him. That Belgian drikleur would just be a bonus.

"For him it would be nice if he can win the Belgian championships in Lille in front of his home crowd. That will probably never happen again. It would be nice for his palmares. I'm sure he will have a fantastic race on Sunday and that he will compete for the victory.

"I think it is clear that Wout makes most of his chance. In every race, he has 80 to 90 percent chance of winning. If he rides fast, then the rest is fighting for second place. Wout is the big favorite and has to deal with it. He has to enjoy that status.

"His big rival? I have seen a very strong Tom Meeusen in the past few weeks. I expect a number of duos: Pauwels-Vantornout, Meeusen-Aerts, Van Aert-Merlier. Sven Nys has no teammate as shadow leader but he does not need it. His experience is an extra teammate.”

For Wout van Aert, the main thing is to stay quiet. Niels Albert agrees. "Much of the race is won with the head. I have already talked a lot with Wout about that this week. Using my own experience, I have helped him with the mental aspect," says Albert.

"I think the stress will only be an issue if he has to deal with a mechanical problem. Then he has to focus on himself. When you doubt, you've already lost. You have not lost every opportunity just because something happens to you during the race.”