There was no hattrick for Kevin Pauwels.The rider from Sunweb-Napoleon Games won in Ruddervoorde and in Niel, but had to settle for third in the Superprestige race in Gavere. "It's a pity," Pauwels told Sporza. "If you win two times in a row, wou want more."

Pauwels admitted that he didn't have the "super legs" from last week in Gavere where he won in 2011 and was second behind Klaas Vantornout in 2014. "I was good, but not good enough to win," he admitted. "When Wout Van Aert accelerated, I had to let him go. Then I tried, but Wout was too strong."

In the final lap Pauwels tried to get rid of Nys with some accelerations. "But every time he came back," said Pauwels. "In the sprint I did not think Sven would be able to beat me. At the exit of the corner, I thought I had a gap. Therefore, I went full gas immediately. Then I noticed that Sven passed me which was frustrating. Too bad, I would have preferred to be second. Anyway, I was not strong enough. I was never really comfortable in the lead group and constantly had to close gaps. Then you cannot win."

Kevin Pauwels is third in the Superprestige standings, nine points behind Van Aert."To beat him is difficult," he realized, "but I would like to get second place."