A few days ago Tom Meeusen checked the course for the Belgian Championships. The Telenet-Fidea rider hit slightly out at the course designers but is not ready to accept Wout van Aert's supremacy. "I will fight for the victory for as long as possible," he told Sporza.

Many riders choose not to do a course recon but Tom Meeusen leaves nothing to change. A few days ago, checked the circuit in Erpe-Mere that will be used for the Belgian championships tomorrow. "I wanted to feel the mud. With the team, we had made an agreement to ride together again," he told Sporza.

"That's not too bad. We have a busy period behind us during which we have been unable to train much together. And I was

also curious about the course."

What did Meeusen learn from his ride? "In the run-in to the championships, the course is usually heavilty discussed. Bu when you check it yourself, you can see the pitfalls. I wanted to get my own idea and now I know what to expect."

Meeusen was ready to share his impression. "There are two long and heavy pieces," that have been destroyed "by the course designers. I am sorry that they have done it. I don't know how they could do it. I knew that those sections would split the field and they are detrimental to my chances.

"But today I crashed. When I crash here, I know that there are also technical sections on the course and that there will be crashes on Sunday. That is an advantage for me."

Meeusen is ready to draw a conclusion. "This is a difficult race for me. Wout van Aert is in top form and gets a course that suits him 100 percent. But that does not mean that I can't win.

"I do not want to ride for second place. Whether I would already sign for second place? No, then it is better not to start. The Belgian championships seem like they have already been held.But I still think I have a chance. I will fight for the victory for as long as possible."