Yesterday Kevin Pauwels finished second behind Mathieu van der Poel in the Superprestige race in Hoogstraten.

"Van der Poel was playing with me," he told Sporza. "Every time I got closer, he accelerated again. That's very annoying. It never slowed down.

"It was a tough course and we had to go full gas immediately. It was also the second race of the weekend. My back hurt a bit but all in all I had a good day."

Pauwels is now second in the Superprestige standings, two points behind van der Poel, with just one race to go.

"The final victory? Only if Van der Poel suddenly has a bad day in Middelkerke will it be possible, but I fear it won't happen."