Top riders Wout Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Lars van der Haar preferred the sun over the Soudal Classics race in Leuven. According to Sven Nys, the decision marks a bad evolution. "If I had not been at the start, what would this race have to do?" he asked before the race.

"I feel really very good," Nys told Het Nieuwsblad.. "I arrived by car this morning. I have recovered well from all the racing. When I wake up, I always think I can race again. Therefore I have retained a good feeling after Baal and Diegem. The other, faster crosses can not really by used as a gauge."

"A few months ago I thought that I would not ride today in Leuven," Nys continued. "Some opt for the sun or perhaps have other reasons. That's a choice. For the young riders, I can maybe understand that. You must be able to recover after so many successive races. But if I had not been at the start, what would this race to do? I hope everyone takes responsibility and will also be at the start of the small races in the future. I fear that they are going to disappear."

The Telenet-Fidea riders that Nys will manage in the future, were all at the start in Leuven."Yes, those riders are here. In that respect I don't need to teach them anything," concluded Nys who had to settle for sixth place.