The Christmas weekend with the races in Heusden-Zolder and Diegem was no success story for Wout van Aert. In Diegem, Van Aert had to settle for 10th place after he broke his derailleur late in the race "But I have to remember the positive aspect. I can only improve," said the Vastgoedservice leader.

Yesterday Wout van Aert suffered from illness in Heusden-Zolder. How did he feel in Diegem?

"I am satisfied with the feeling," Van Aert told Sporza. "It was a lot better than in Zolder. I do not dare to make a full-on attack because i feared that I would crack.

"So I played a bit of a waiting game, keeping the illness in mind. But due to my bad luck I was not in the leading group and I had a good chance of a place in the top 5."

Van Aert missed out on the top 5 because he has to deal with a broken derailleur with two laps to go. "I partly have to plame myself for that setback.

"For a couple of laps I thought I had to change my bike because the mud stuck to my bike  in that mud strip. So it's my own fault that this happened. To lose places in that way is stupid but something like that is also part of the sport."

What is Wout van Aert's conclusion after this weekend? "It was tedious racing. But I can certainly be beaten.

"Maybe this weekend takes a little pressure off. I have to remember the positive because it can only improve. I'm sure everything will be all right.

"It's now more exciting in the standings. My advantage is lost due to bad luck, but I still have a small advantage with two more races after the Worlds. I did not feel super today but better than yesterday. In t he last two laps I was still right in front. I can end this weekend with a good feeling."