Yesterday Mathieu van der Poel did his second race in the rainbow jersey and again he came out on top when he won the Superprestige race in Hoogstraten.

"It was hard today," he told Sporza. "It was a difficult course and Kevin [Pauwels] kept on putting me under pressure.

"I like to start quickly and immediately had a gap. I never believed that Pauwels would come back, but if you just keep riding, you're sure. I don't make it easy for myself.

"It's the first time I have done such a good double weekend. I can close my season on a high note. Since Diegem I haven't lost a race. I also want to win in Middelkerke because it remains close in the battle for overall victory [in the Superprestige series]. I am two points ahead of Pauwels. Without equipment failure, it should be enough."