Wout van Aert traveled to Spain yesterday with his new Belgian jersey in the suitcase. "I want to focus on the Worlds where Van der Poel is the favourite, as quickly as possible," he tells Sporza.

Wout van Aert skipped the race in Otegem and escaped the Belgian crowds. "We chose to quickly search for the Spanish sun to be able to find some peace.”

"I want train on the road for the Worlds as quickly as possible. Here you can do what a rider should do – in good conditions. It will be about 20 degrees during the day here which a big difference compared to the cold in Belgium.

"In Belgium I had fun with interviews because that is part of it, but this is also beautiful. I'm busy with my job and can immediately focus on the Worlds.

"With two World Cup races  and a training period, it is my choice to be as fresh as possible for the Worlds. I try to keep my condition until then and work on some specific issues that I can use in Zolder.

"On that course, Mathieu van der Poel is the favorite which he proved in the World Cup race in late December. It's not my favorite circuit. I will do everything to be in the mix.

"It is not a strategy to choose the role of underdog as I showed at the Belgian Championships that I can properly handle the role of favorite. And I really hope that I can beat Mathieu in Zolder."