Tom Meeusen delivered an excellent performance in today's Bpost Bank Trofee race in Essen but was still far off the pace of the superior winner Wout van Aert. However, the Belgian was pleased with his second place on a course that required a lot of running.

Tom Meeusen had to settle for second place in his own backyard at the Bpost Bank Trofee race in Essen.

"Today I had a very good day," he told Sporza after the race. "But Wout (Aert, ed) and Rob (Peeters, ed) set a very hard pace in the running sections. And running is for men with long legs, it is not for me.

"But I am very happy that I can finally stand on the podium in my own cross. I live less than two kilometres from the circuit and that was noticeable. Wout have just told me that everyone shouted that he should slow down. I am thankful that the spectators were behind me today."