Kevin Pauwels once again put his excellent form on show when he took a beautiful solo win in the first Superprestige race on the new course in Spa-Francorchamps. The Belgian now leads both the World Cup and the Superprestige overall and his main target for the rest of the season is to defend those positions.

After finishing second in yesterday’s World Cup race in Koksijde, Kevin Pauwels told Sporza that he was looking forward to today’s Superprestige race in Spa-Francorchamps. Held on the F1 track in the Belgian city, the race was an unusual one, with lots of running, steep climbs and very little mud.

The course suited Pauwels down to the ground and so it was no surprise that the Belgian took his second Superprestige victory in the maiden edition of the race. Already in the early part of the race, he played with the muscles, using his excellent running skills to make a difference.

Just before the halfway point, Pauwels and Lars van der Haar distanced their rivals and from there it was a two-rider battle. While the former constantly applied the pressure, the latter who was back after skipping yesterday’s race due to illness, hung on for dear life.

However, van der Haar did well to respond to Pauwels’ many attacks and when they started the final lap, the pair were still together. Knowing that Pauwels would be the strongest on the steep climb to the finish, van der Haar made a big attack as they crossed the finish line for the penultimate time but Pauwels never seemed to be in trouble.

Van der Haar gambled too much in a turn which caused his bike to slide out and this was the opportunity that Pauwels was waiting for. The Sunweb got a big gap and managed to increase his advantage in the second half of the circuit to take a convincing solo win while a disappointed van der Haar had to settle for second.

The course in Spa-Francorchamps immediately turned out to be one of the toughest of the season.

"This course suits me so I was mentioned as one of the favourites," Pauwels told Sporza. "I could make different attacks but van der Haar responded really well.

"After the crash I could gain a few more seconds and defend my position to the end."

Pauwels has had a beautiful weekend. Yesterday he was second in Kiksijde and took the lead in the Worl Cup. Today he assumed the same position in the overall Superprestige standings.

"Those overall vicorries are my main goals of the season," he revealed.