Yesterday Tom Meeusen ended an eventful week by finishing 18th in the World Cup race in Hoogerheide. The cyclocross rider can now focus on the World Championships next Sunday in Tabor where he is one of the podium contenders.

Tom Meeusen started the race in Hoogerheide like a rocket. "I knew I could not fight for the win but I absolutely wanted to show myself. Therefore I made an immediate acceleration. The support of the fans gave me a wonderful feeling. I had goose bumps from all these encouragements," Meeusen told Sporza.

"However, I did not feel healthy. It's unbelievable what such a hellish week does to your body. My neck, my back, everything in my body was stuck. The physiotherapist has had to do a lot of work with me. I also need to take antibiotics for my sinuses. In was not an option to ride in the front."

After just half a lap, Meeusen fell back. He eventually finished 18th and took fifth in the final World Cup standings. "My body was simply not working. The race in Hoogerheide lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders.

"Now I will put the misery of last week behind me. I'm glad I could show that I was not giving up. It was not easy to follow the pace but I also realzied that I would not have been allowed to start. Then it was no option to withdraw.

"I can not be happy with 18th but that was not the important thing yesterday. I rode the frustration out of my body. At the Worlds, it will be different. There I will start with a different attitude and I'm not going to start in that crazy manner."